5 questions about Trump’s proposal to have Syria fight Hezbollah

1. What exactly has President Trump proposed regarding Syria and Hezbollah?

At the Group of Seven summit, Trump suggested that Israel should let Syria take on Hezbollah in Lebanon, arguing that Syria’s new Islamist-led government would be more precise and effective at rooting out the militant group than the Israeli military. He expressed frustration that Israel’s ongoing war with Hezbollah has lasted too long and resulted in too many civilian deaths, with more than 4,000 people killed in Lebanon since Hezbollah launched attacks on Israel following a March 2 strike.

2. How has Syria responded to the idea?

Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa has flatly rejected the notion of a military intervention, saying rumors of an invasion are false and that Trump’s comments were misinterpreted. Al-Sharaa says Syria’s actual proposal to Washington involves pursuing a peaceful solution — focusing on stopping the war and pursuing economic, political, and social remedies rather than military ones.

3. Why would Syria be reluctant to get involved, even as a former enemy of Hezbollah?

Although Hezbollah backed the Assad regime that Syria’s new leaders helped overthrow, al-Sharaa’s government has said it is focused on rebuilding a country devastated by 14 years of civil war and is not interested in settling old scores or being drawn into regional conflict. Analysts note that Syria’s military remains far from a cohesive fighting force, comprising thousands of foreign fighters of uncertain loyalty, making a disciplined cross-border campaign highly unlikely.

4. Why is Trump’s proposal alarming to people in Lebanon?

The suggestion has stirred deep sectarian anxieties among Lebanon’s Shiite, Christian and Druze communities, who fear violence from Syria’s Sunni Islamist-affiliated forces — fears reinforced by post-Assad episodes in Syria where such fighters carried out attacks on Alawite and Druze civilians. Lebanon also carries the painful memory of decades of Syrian military occupation that lasted until 2005, making the prospect of any Syrian military presence on Lebanese soil politically explosive.

5. What are the broader regional tensions surrounding this situation?

Beyond the Syria-Lebanon dynamic, the proposal has spotlighted rising friction between Israel and Turkey, both of which are competing for influence in Syria — Israel has seized a strip of southern Syrian territory since al-Sharaa took power, while Turkey is a primary backer of his government. Israel’s top security officials met this week to assess the situation, and while Israel views al-Sharaa’s Islamist government with suspicion, officials say their primary concern remains Hezbollah itself.

For more on this report, read “Trump presses Syria to take on Hezbollah, raising alarm in Lebanon and Israel” from The Associated Press, published on The Washington Times.