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U.S. President Donald Trump said Wednesday that Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa wants to take on a role in dealing with Hezbollah and would act more precisely than Israel without destroying buildings.
In an interview with Fox News, Trump expressed confidence that Al-Sharaa was willing to address the group, although he did not provide details about the proposed role or how it would be carried out.
“Al-Sharaa will take care of Hezbollah, and he’ll do it differently,” Trump said. “He won’t destroy buildings.”
Trump added: “Al-Sharaa will be more precise than the Israelis in dealing with Hezbollah, and I know he wants to do that.”
Trump said the Syrian president would handle Hezbollah in his own way and avoid the destruction of residential buildings.
“He won’t knock down apartment houses,” Trump said.
The U.S. president described Al-Sharaa as more sensitive and precise than Israel in dealing with Hezbollah, suggesting that Syria could assume a role in addressing the group.
Trump also said Al-Sharaa would deal with Hezbollah inside Syria, but offered no further information about the nature or implementation of such a role.
Trump said Israel should withdraw its forces from southern Syria and Lebanon and redirect its military efforts toward Iran.
He described an Israeli redeployment from Lebanon as a positive development amid the continuing escalation between Washington and Tehran.
“It is good for Israel to redeploy in Lebanon to focus on the major issue, which is Iran,” Trump said.
His comments presented a possible Syrian role against Hezbollah alongside an Israeli withdrawal from Lebanon and a broader Israeli focus on confronting Iran.
Al-Sharaa has previously rejected reports that Syria intends to intervene militarily in Lebanon.
The Syrian president said Damascus’ priority was rebuilding Syria after years of conflict and strengthening economic ties with Lebanon rather than pursuing military cooperation.
He described reports of a possible Syrian military intervention in Lebanon as “completely false.”
On July 12, U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee said a proposal for Syrian involvement in Lebanon had failed to gain support from Lebanese and Israeli officials.
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