Former U.S. President Donald Trump has suggested that Syria should take on the Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah, a proposal that has raised concerns in Lebanon and Israel. Trump has expressed frustration that Israel's war with Hezbollah has been protracted and costly, stating that the Syrian military might be more effective at combating the group.
Trump voiced these sentiments on the sidelines of the G7 summit, complaining that "too many people are being killed" in the conflict. He remarked that Israel did not need to "knock down an apartment house every time you're looking for somebody," implying that Israeli strikes in Lebanon were too indiscriminate. He added, "I suggested to Israel to let Syria take care of Hezbollah. 'Cause to be honest with you, I think they'd do a better job."
Days later, during an interview, Trump reiterated his disappointment with Israel's inability to defeat Hezbollah, stating he was "close to giving it to Syria" because he believed Syrian leader Ahmad al-Sharaa would be more precise in targeting the group. The White House declined to comment on these statements, referring to Trump's previous remarks.
Syrian officials have attempted to manage the fallout from Trump's comments. Al-Sharaa stated on June 13 that rumors of Syrian intervention in Lebanon were untrue and that Syria called for a permanent end to the war and the strengthening of institutions in Lebanon. In a subsequent interview on June 21, al-Sharaa suggested that Trump's remarks had been misinterpreted, asserting that the former president had spoken about Syria's role in finding a peaceful solution. He clarified that Syria had presented its vision for a solution to the United States, focusing on ending the war and addressing its negative effects.
The proposal has generated alarm in the region. Top Israeli security officials convened to discuss the matter. Lebanon holds bitter memories of decades of Syrian occupation, which ended in 2005. Israel, while seeking to limit Syrian influence, primarily views Syria's Islamist-led government with suspicion, particularly since taking control of a strip of southern Syria after al-Sharaa's rise to power.
Experts have questioned the feasibility and wisdom of Trump's suggestion. Randa Slim, director of the Middle East Program at the Stimson Center, described the proposal as being driven by "a profound ignorance of the dynamics on the ground." Slim noted that Syria faces immense challenges in rebuilding its war-torn country and that its military forces are not a coherent institution, containing many foreign fighters with uncertain loyalties. She also pointed to past sectarian violence in Syria following the fall of Bashar Assad's government, which involved fighters affiliated with the new government carrying out attacks on civilians, raising fears of cross-border conflict.
Hezbollah and Iran had previously intervened on the side of Bashar Assad during Syria's civil war, while al-Sharaa led an insurgent group seeking to overthrow him. However, the new leadership in Damascus has stated its focus is on domestic reconstruction and remaining outside of regional conflicts. During the recent war between Israel and Iran, Syria maintained a position on the sidelines, sending reinforcements to its border with Lebanon primarily to prevent arms smuggling and conflict spillover. While Syria accused Hezbollah of shelling its positions in March, the escalation did not spread further. Turkish officials also reportedly intervened to de-escalate tensions between Syria and Lebanon at one point.