Trump urges Syria to take on Hezbollah, raising concerns in Lebanon and Israel

United States President Donald Trump has sparked fresh debate across the Middle East after suggesting that Syria should take responsibility for dealing with Hezbollah instead of Israel.

United States President Donald Trump has sparked fresh debate across the Middle East after suggesting that Syria should take responsibility for dealing with Hezbollah instead of Israel. His remarks have caused concern in both Lebanon and Israel, where officials fear the proposal could further complicate an already unstable region.

Trump has recently expressed frustration over Israel’s long-running military campaign against Hezbollah in Lebanon. Speaking during the G7 summit earlier this month, he said the conflict has continued for too long and has resulted in the deaths of too many civilians. He argued that large scale airstrikes on residential buildings were causing unnecessary destruction and questioned whether such operations were the best way to target Hezbollah fighters. Trump added that Syria might be able to handle the group more effectively than the Israeli military.

His comments came after Syria’s new leadership took power following the removal of former President Bashar Assad. The current government, led by President Ahmad al Sharaa, emerged after Islamist backed opposition forces overthrew Assad around one and a half years ago. Despite Trump’s repeated suggestions, the Syrian leadership has firmly rejected any plans to launch military action against Hezbollah.

President al Sharaa has made it clear that Syria is focused on rebuilding after years of civil war and has no intention of becoming involved in another regional conflict. He said reports suggesting Syria would intervene in Lebanon were incorrect and explained that Trump’s remarks had been misunderstood. According to him, Syria’s discussions with the United States have focused on ending the war, improving regional stability, and encouraging political and economic cooperation instead of military action.

The issue has also attracted attention in Israel. According to reports, senior Israeli security officials recently met to discuss the possibility of Syria taking on a larger role in Lebanon. While Israel remains concerned about Hezbollah, officials are also watching Syria’s growing influence with caution. Israel has long viewed Syria’s new leadership with suspicion and continues to maintain control over parts of southern Syria captured after the change in government.

Hezbollah played a major role in supporting Bashar Assad during Syria’s civil war with backing from Iran. Despite that history, Syria’s current rulers say they are not interested in seeking revenge. They insist their priority is restoring the country’s economy, rebuilding state institutions, and bringing stability after years of conflict.

Political experts believe Trump’s proposal overlooks the difficult realities facing Syria. The country is still recovering from years of war and faces major challenges including damaged infrastructure, economic hardship, and the return of millions of displaced people. Analysts also point out that Syria’s military remains divided and is still developing into a unified national force.

Many people in Lebanon are also uneasy about the idea. The country still remembers Syria’s military presence that lasted until 2005 and fears that any new involvement could reopen old political and sectarian tensions. For now, Syria continues to reject any military role in Lebanon, while uncertainty remains over whether Trump’s proposal will develop into an actual policy or remain only a political suggestion.