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Syria rejected a U.S. proposal to undertake unspecified roles in Lebanon because Damascus opposes military intervention and supports the Lebanese state establishing authority across its territory, a Syrian presidential adviser said.
Ahmed Muwafaq Zaidan, media adviser to Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa, told Al Arabiya television that Syria favored a development-focused and diplomatic approach toward Lebanon rather than acting as a military force there.
“The U.S. offered Syria the opportunity to undertake certain tasks in Lebanon,” Zaidan said. “However, Syria supports the Lebanese state establishing sovereignty over its territory, not military intervention.”
He said Lebanon’s government should strengthen its authority and establish control over all areas of the country.
“The Lebanese state must strengthen its own authority and establish control over all its territory,” Zaidan said.
He did not provide details about the tasks proposed by Washington.
Zaidan said Syria had chosen to act as a diplomatic mediator rather than become a military actor on the ground in Lebanon.
He pointed to recent contacts between Sharaa and representatives of Lebanon’s political factions as evidence of Damascus’ political and diplomatic approach.
The Syrian president’s extensive talks with Lebanese groups demonstrated that Syria was not pursuing military intervention, Zaidan said.
He said Damascus instead sought to encourage political engagement and support efforts by Lebanese institutions to exercise authority throughout the country.
Syria’s policy toward Lebanon remained centered on development and stability, he added.
Zaidan said Syria fully supported Lebanon’s sovereignty and the authority of the Lebanese state over its territory.
He argued that Lebanon’s institutions, rather than outside military actors, should establish control and ensure stability.
“Syria’s approach toward Lebanon is based on development,” he said. “We have expressed this on many platforms and in media and political circles.”
He said Syria had paid a heavy price during years of war and that interventions by some Lebanese groups had increased those costs.
“Syria paid a great price during years of war,” Zaidan said. “Likewise, the interventions in Syria by some Lebanese parties, particularly Hezbollah and other elements, increased this cost.”
“Today, the Syrian people are paying the price of this tragedy,” he added.
Zaidan said fighting in Lebanon must stop to create lasting stability.
He also said remnants of the former Syrian government were present in Lebanon and were under Hezbollah’s protection.
“It is known that some remnants of the regime are in Lebanon and that they are under Hezbollah’s protection,” he said.
“For this reason, Syria’s primary priority is for the conflicts to end.”
Zaidan said Damascus would continue to pursue a political and diplomatic course toward Lebanon while supporting the Lebanese state’s efforts to strengthen its authority and control its territory.
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