Damascus races to reassure Beirut as Trump pushes Syria to take on Hezbollah
US President Donald Trump has repeatedly suggested handing responsibility for dealing with Hezbollah to Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa, reviving fears in Lebanon of renewed Syrian military involvement despite denials from Damascus.
Trump’s increasingly explicit statements have also appeared to contradict an earlier denial by US envoy to Syria Tom Barrack, who dismissed reports that Washington had pressured Damascus to send forces into Lebanon as “false and inaccurate”.
The latest remarks came on 21 June, when Trump told Fox News that he was disappointed by Israel’s failure to defeat Hezbollah without causing widespread destruction.
“They can’t do anything without knocking buildings down,” Trump said. “I’m close to giving it over to Syria.”
Trump did not explain what he meant by "giving it over", leaving it unclear whether he was referring to a Syrian military operation, political mediation, pressure on Hezbollah, tighter border controls or cooperation with the Lebanese state.
But his comments were the latest in a series of public statements indicating that Washington has considered assigning Damascus a role in dealing with the Lebanese group.
His remarks reinforced the impression that Washington sees Damascus as a potential partner in efforts to curb Hezbollah's influence in Lebanon.
Read more: Damascus races to reassure Beirut as Trump pushes Syria to take on Hezbollah
US President Donald Trump shakes hands with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa at the White House in Washington on 10 November 2025 (AFP/Sana)