Syria offers different approach: Al-Sharaa rules out fighting against Hezbollah after Trump's suggestion

Amid the brewing tensions in West Asia, Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa on Sunday ruled out intervening in the ongoing Israel-Lebanon conflict after US President Donald Trump suggested Damascus could get involved and fight Hezbollah. While speaking to Fox News on Sunday, Trump expressed his frustration over Israel's fight against the Iran-backed terror group that has managed to derail the ongoing US-Iranian negotiations in Switzerland.

On Sunday, Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu doubled down on the Jewish nation's military's need to maintain a buffer zone in southern Lebanon. The proclamation came at a time when Israel Defence Forces (IDF) reportedly urged Israel's political leadership to intensify negotiations with the Lebanese government as the sides are slated to meet again this week.

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In his interview, Trump said that he and Vice President JD Vance had both repeatedly complained about Israel's conduct in the Lebanon conflict, calling it a spoiler of the talks with Iran. The American leader also lashed out at Hezbollah in a post on Sunday and chided Israel for civilian casualties in its Lebanon strikes.

He then repeated the same sentiments in the Fox News interview and alluded that he is close to getting Syria involved. “Disappointed Israel can’t put Hezbollah away,” Trump said. “They (Israel) can’t do anything without knocking buildings down,” the president added. Then, referring to the fight against Hezbollah, he said, “I’m close to giving it over to Syria.”

Al Sharaa wants to stay out of it

However, the Syrian interim leader, who has been focused on rebuilding Syria after his Islamist forces ousted longtime ruler Bashar al-Assad in late 2024, rejected the idea of Syrian forces going to war against Hezbollah, a former Assad ally.

“The crisis in Lebanon is very serious, and there is a deadlock in political solutions,” Sharaa told Arab news outlet Al Mashhad. “Syria offers a different approach to solving it, but the most important thing is first of all to stop the war.”

“The solution for Lebanon will not come through war and the bombing of cities. President Trump expressed concern about the current situation in Lebanon, and his words were misunderstood. He spoke about Syria’s role in seeking a safe and peaceful solution, but people understood him as if Syria would enter Lebanon tomorrow morning," he added.

Al Sharaa went on to emphasise that his country is focusing on economic channels between Lebanon and Syria, not military ones. “We are looking for economic channels between Lebanon and Syria, not military ones,” he said. “Our vision is based on restoring support for the Lebanese state, strengthening its institutions, and seeking a solution that everyone can believe in. Stopping what is happening in Lebanon now requires creative solutions, not traditional and outdated ones.”

When asked if he would sit at the table with Hezbollah, Sharaa said that “if this serves Lebanon’s interests and safeguards Syria’s interests, why not?” Overall, only time will tell if Syria would get dragged into the Israel-Hezbollah conflict or not.