Syrian President Ahmad al-Shara said his reported willingness to enter Lebanon to disarm Hezbollah was incorrect and misunderstood, according to Syrian media. Al-Shara stated he is willing to sit with Hezbollah at the negotiating table and that Lebanon deserves a different future than Syria's past.
Syrian President Ahmad al-Shara clarified late Monday that earlier reports suggesting he was willing to enter Lebanon to disarm Hezbollah were incorrect, according to Syrian media. In a statement, al-Shara said he is open to negotiations with Hezbollah and that Lebanon deserves a future different from Syria's troubled past. The clarification follows a weekend of conflicting signals.
As The Zioneer reported Sunday evening, al-Shara had already told President Donald Trump that Syrian forces would not cross into Lebanon — a position he reiterated in a direct message to Trump later that night. That message, reported at 19:24 Jerusalem on Sunday, came after Trump publicly called for Syria to handle Hezbollah, a notion Israel has strongly opposed. Earlier Sunday, al-Shara said Syria might assist in disarming Hezbollah, but not through war or patronage. By 22:14, he refined his position further, saying Syria would not enter Lebanon to fight but could aid disarmament.
Al-Shara's latest remarks align with his broader refusal to take military action against Hezbollah inside Lebanon — a stance he has maintained since initial reports of Trump exploring a Syrian role. As The Zioneer reported on June 16, al-Shara rejected a U.S. proposal to confront Hezbollah militarily, fearing being seen as protecting Israel and conditioning any intervention on an Israeli withdrawal from southern Syria. Trump has continued to push the idea publicly, saying Sunday he was 'close to letting Syria do it' and that Syria 'would be happy' to step in.
It remains unclear how al-Shara's offer of negotiations with Hezbollah translates into a practical framework, or whether Trump accepts Damascus's refusal of a military role. No official U.S. response to Monday's clarification has been reported.
4 developments
- StrongSyrian president al-Sharaa rejects US proposal to confront Hezbollah militarily in Lebanon, citing concern over perception and unmet Israeli demands
- StrongSyrian President al-Julani says Syria may aid disarming Hezbollah, but not by fighting
- StrongSyria's interim president: We have a deep problem with Hezbollah but don't want Lebanon destroyed
- StrongTrump says Syria 'would be happy' to handle Hezbollah, Lebanese president to visit Washington
Source and signal
- Internal intake