Damascus races to reassure Beirut as Trump pushes Syria to take on Hezbollah

Damascus races to reassure Beirut as Trump pushes Syria to take on Hezbollah Submitted by Adam Chamseddine on Sat, 06/27/2026 - 13:10 Talks of a Syrian role in Lebanon revive memories of decades of troubled relations and military occupation US President Donald Trump shakes hands with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa at the White House in Washington on 10 November 2025 (AFP/Sana) Off US President Donald Trump has repeatedly suggested handing responsibility for dealing with Hezbollah to Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa, reviving fears in Lebanon of renewed Syrian military involvement despite denials from Damascus. Trump’s increasingly explicit statements have also appeared to contradict an earlier denial by US envoy to Syria Tom Barrack, who dismissed reports that Washington had pressured Damascus to send forces into Lebanon as “false and inaccurate”. The latest remarks came on 21 June, when Trump told Fox News that he was disappointed by Israel ’s failure to defeat Hezbollah without causing widespread destruction.