Trump floats idea of Syria taking on Hezbollah in Lebanon, raising regional alarm and drawing sharp pushback from Damascus
As the White House has grown more critical of Israel’s war with Hezbollah in Lebanon, U.S. President Donald Trump has raised eyebrows in the region by suggesting an alternative approach: allowing Syria to take on the Iran-backed militant group instead.
Trump has argued that the new Syrian leadership that emerged after the ouster of Bashar Assad a year and a half ago could be more effective at targeting Hezbollah than Israel’s military campaign. The idea, however, has been met with strong skepticism and concern across the region.
Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa has rejected the notion that his government intends to intervene in Lebanon, saying Trump’s comments were misinterpreted. Despite that, Trump has continued to press the idea publicly, fueling confusion about how seriously the proposal is being considered in Washington.
The suggestion has triggered alarm in Lebanon and unease in Israel, which remains deeply wary of Syria’s new Islamist-led government and continues to maintain a military presence in parts of southern Syria. Tensions have also grown between Israel and Turkey, a key supporter of al-Sharaa’s government, as both countries seek to shape influence inside Syria.
Israeli security officials reportedly held internal discussions this week about the situation, reflecting growing concern over potential shifts in regional dynamics.
Trump has repeatedly criticized the pace and scale of Israel’s campaign against Hezbollah, arguing that it has resulted in excessive civilian casualties. He has also suggested that Syria could be better suited to confronting the group, pointing to the limitations of Israel’s current approach.
Syrian officials, however, have moved to clarify their position. Al-Sharaa has said his government is focused on stability, reconstruction, and avoiding further regional conflict, stressing that Syria does not seek confrontation with Lebanon or Hezbollah.
While Hezbollah previously fought alongside the Assad government during Syria’s civil war, Syria’s current leadership has said it is not interested in settling past scores. Instead, it has emphasized rebuilding the country and avoiding entanglement in broader regional wars.
Even as tensions have occasionally flared along the Syria-Lebanon border in recent months, including accusations of cross-border fire that Hezbollah denied, both sides have so far avoided sustained escalation. Regional actors, including Turkey, have also intervened diplomatically at times to reduce friction.
Analysts and regional observers have expressed skepticism about the practicality of Trump’s proposal, pointing to Syria’s internal instability, ongoing reconstruction challenges, and the presence of fragmented armed groups within its territory.
Concerns have also been raised about sectarian tensions and historical memories of Syrian involvement in Lebanon, which lasted for decades until 2005, shaping Lebanese political sensitivities toward any renewed Syrian role.
While the proposal has added another layer of uncertainty to an already volatile regional landscape, officials say Israel’s primary focus remains Hezbollah, even as it closely monitors developments involving Syria and Lebanon.
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