The USA has inspired Syria to think about sending forces into jap Lebanon to assist disarm Hezbollah, however Damascus is reluctant to embark on such a mission for worry of being sucked into the struggle within the Center East and inflaming sectarian tensions, 5 individuals briefed on the matter stated. The proposal to Syria’s U.S.-allied authorities displays intensifying strikes to disarm Iran-backed Hezbollah, which opened hearth at Israel in assist of Tehran on March 2, prompting an Israeli offensive in Lebanon.
The thought was first mentioned by U.S. and Syrian officers final yr, stated two of the sources – each Syrian officers – and two others conversant in the discussions. All spoke on situation of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the matter. The thought was raised once more by U.S. officers across the time the U.S. and Israel started their struggle in opposition to Iran. The 2 Syrian officers stated a U.S. request got here shortly earlier than the struggle started. A Western intelligence supply stated it was simply after it began.
Reuters spoke to 10 sources for this text – six Syrian officers and authorities advisors, two Western diplomats, a European official and a Western intelligence supply. All stated Syria’s Sunni Islamist-led authorities had been cautiously contemplating a cross-border operation however remained hesitant.
U.S. encouragement for a Syrian operation in jap Lebanon and Syria’s hesitation to hold one out haven’t beforehand been reported.
A U.S. State Division spokesperson declined to touch upon “non-public diplomatic communications”, and referred Reuters to the Syrian and Lebanese governments for feedback on their operations.
After this story was revealed, U.S. envoy for Syria Tom Barrack, who can be ambassador to Turkey, posted on X that “reporting concerning the USA encouraging Syria to ship forces into Lebanon is fake and inaccurate.”
Damascus gives assurances to Lebanon
Regardless of historic enmity in the direction of Hezbollah and Tehran – each fought alongside Bashar al-Assad throughout Syria’s 2011-24 civil struggle – Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa has moved cautiously since U.S.-Israeli airstrikes on Iran started on February 28.
One supply, a senior Syrian official, stated Damascus and its Arab allies agreed Syria ought to keep out of the struggle, and take solely defensive measures.
Damascus has deployed rocket items and hundreds of troops on the Lebanese frontier since early February, calling these measures defensive.
Syria’s ministries of international affairs and data didn’t reply to requests for remark.
Responding to questions from Reuters, Lebanon’s presidency stated it had not acquired any “trace or discover from the U.S., the West, the Arab international locations or Syria” about U.S.-Syria discussions on a possible cross-border operation.
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun had held a bilateral name with Sharaa, and a trilateral name additionally involving France’s president, wherein Sharaa stated Syria revered Lebanon’s sovereignty and had no intervention plans, the presidency stated.
It stated Lebanon coordinates with Syria on border preparations however has by no means mentioned Hezbollah with Damascus.
Lebanon’s army stated channels of coordination with Syria remained open “inside the framework of addressing border points and customary safety challenges”, with the purpose of stopping tensions or incidents and making certain stability within the border space.
Prime Minister Nawaf Salam stated Sharaa had informed him “the reinforcement of the army presence alongside the Syrian-Lebanese border goals solely to strengthen border management and preserve inner Syrian safety”, and that Sharaa underlined the significance of continued coordination.
Aoun has pursued a coverage geared toward securing Hezbollah’s disarmament however Beirut has moved cautiously, with Hezbollah wielding a potent arsenal and having fun with important assist amongst Lebanese Shi’ite Muslims.
Sharaa has stated he helps Aoun’s efforts to disarm Hezbollah.
Damascus sees threat of Iranian assault
The senior Syrian official stated Washington had given the inexperienced gentle for an operation into jap Lebanon to assist Lebanon disarm Hezbollah – when the time is true.
However Damascus noticed dangers together with potential Iranian missile assaults and potential for unrest amongst minority Shi’ites, threatening efforts to stabilise Syria after sectarianviolence final yr.
Two Western diplomats additionally stated Washington had accredited the thought of a Syrian cross-border operation in opposition to Hezbollah. The Western intelligence supply and a European official stated the U.S. had requested Syria’s military to play a extra energetic position countering Hezbollah in Lebanon, together with through a potential incursion into the east.
The Western intelligence supply and the European official stated Syria’s management was cautious of coming into Lebanon as this might inflame bilateral tensions.
A Syrian army official stated there was no last resolution but on any potential operation inside Lebanon, however the choice of intervening within the occasion of a battle between the Lebanese state and Hezbollah remained on the desk.
Syrian domination underneath Assads
Syria lengthy dominated Lebanon underneath the Assads, sending in forces in 1976 in the course of the 1975-90 civil struggle on the invitation of President Suleiman Frangieh and controlling Lebanon’s post-war politics till its withdrawal in 2005.
Any Syrian intervention may gas sectarian tensions in each Syria and Lebanon, dwelling to a mosaic of sects together with Sunnis, Christians, Druze and Shi’ites.
In a March 13 interview with Lebanese broadcaster MTV, Syrian Protection Ministry spokesperson Brigadier Normal Hassan Abdel Ghani stated the build-up on the border was a defensive measure. There was a excessive degree of coordination with Lebanon’s military, he stated, and Sharaa supported the institution of Lebanese state authority over Lebanon.
Final week, Syria’s military stated Hezbollah artillery shells landed in a border village. Hezbollah had stated it had repelled an Israeli try and infiltrate Lebanon from the identical village. Israeli officers stated they had been unaware of any such operation. The Syrian military stated it was “contemplating applicable choices to take the mandatory actions” in response.
Revealed – March 18, 2026 05:55 am IST