Syrian President Sharaa rejects Trump’s idea for Syria to disarm Hezbollah, says he was ‘misunderstood’
Syria has interest in solving Hezbollah issue but won't fight, Sharaa says
After U.S. President Donald Trump suggested several times in recent days that Syria would do a better job of “handling” the Hezbollah terrorist organization in Lebanon, President Ahmad al-Sharaa said his government has no plans to confront the group militarily, advocating instead for peaceful solutions.
During an interview with Fox News on Sunday, Trump reiterated his suggestion, noting disappointment that Israel hasn’t succeeded in “moving” Hezbollah so far. The Iranian regime has sought to link the issue to its ceasefire deal with the United States, resulting in the Trump administration pressuring Israel not to escalate tensions in southern Lebanon.
“They (Israelis) can’t do anything without knocking buildings down,” he told Fox, noting that he is “close to giving this to Syria because he [al-Sharaa] would do a more precise job.”
In addition, Trump wrote on Truth Social, “Iran must immediately stop their highly paid PROXIES in Lebanon from causing trouble. If they don’t, we’ll hit Iran very hard again, just like we did last week, only harder!!!”
Al-Sharaa addressed the Hezbollah issue in an interview with the Arab news outlet Al Mashhad on Sunday, saying that Trump’s “statement was misinterpreted, as if Syria were about to invade Lebanon tomorrow morning.”
Syria wants to solve the problem of Hezbollah, but that does not mean a return to war or renewed 'tutelage' over Lebanon, said President Ahmad Al Shara
— The National (@TheNationalNews) June 22, 2026
His comments come after US President Donald Trump suggested Damascus could play a role in confronting the Iran-backed group in… pic.twitter.com/9rqrwP2qEW
“President Trump expressed his concern regarding what is happening in Lebanon and wants to stop the war there. He spoke about Syria’s role in finding a secure solution… Syria is very concerned about Lebanon’s security and stability because they are linked to Syria’s own security and stability,” he stressed.
Hezbollah sent thousands of troops to Syria during the recent civil war, helping the Assad regime and its Iranian patron in the fighting against Islamist groups, including Sharaa’s Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham, which eventually defeated the dictator, Bashar al-Assad.
Since then, newly-formed security forces in Syria have been working to dismantle Hezbollah’s weapon smuggling routes, which previously enabled the group to transport arms and funds from Iran via Iraq and Syria into Lebanon.
You can't make this up.
— Qalaat Al Mudiq (@QalaatAlMudiq) June 21, 2026
Trump slams Israel's inability to defeat Hezbollah - demolishing every building - and said he's close to "empowering" Sharaa to finish off Hezbollah in Lebanon.pic.twitter.com/XQM1HcpTcP https://t.co/sDgE2jMa26
Sharaa said Syria has a natural interest in helping the Lebanese government in its own struggle with the Iran-backed terror group, while noting that “the polarization within Lebanon has reduced the possibilities for achieving solutions.”
“Any country in the world that has military forces outside its control is a country that cannot build and develop. We extend our hand to the Lebanese every day to help them find a solution.”
“We have a deep problem with Hezbollah, but we do not want all of Lebanon to die,” Sharaa added.
“The country cannot remain trapped between the options of civil war and war with Israel. The Shiites in Lebanon need calm, not more fear and confrontation. We will sit at the same table with Hezbollah if it serves the interests of both Syria and Lebanon. There are objective conditions that must be met for real peace with Israel—Hezbollah is usurping the authority of the Lebanese state in matters of war and peace.”
Last week, Sharaa’s media advisor, Ahmed Mowaffak Zaidan, told the Saudi channel Al Arabiya that the U.S. had proposed deploying Syrian troops to Lebanon to confront Hezbollah, a suggestion reportedly rejected by the Syrian government.
Zaidan noted that Damascus sees the stability of the Lebanese state as an important regional interest, but remains committed to respecting sovereignty and non-interference in the internal affairs of states.
Lebanese Justice Minister Adel Nassar also rejected the proposal. Speaking to CNN, he lamented the years-long foreign interference in his country, including the Iranian influence exercised via Hezbollah.
“All we are asking for is that all countries stop interfering in Lebanon’s affairs,” Nassar said, adding that this includes the need for Israeli troops to withdraw from the southern part of the country.
Meanwhile, Kan News reported last week that the U.S. is pushing for a resumption of the negotiations between Damascus and Jerusalem, after months of stalemate.
Citing sources, the report said that any direct talks would be conducted through a channel running in parallel to the ongoing negotiations between Jerusalem and Beirut, which are being hosted in Washington. However, there has been no official confirmation of the report so far.
The All Israel News Staff is a team of journalists in Israel.
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