US Urges Syria to Act Against Hezbollah

In an exclusive report, Reuters has learned that the United States has encouraged Syria to consider military action against Hezbollah in Lebanon, though Syrian authorities remain cautious, concerned about igniting broader conflict.

Sources briefed on the matter told Reuters that Washington has urged Damascus to deploy troops into eastern Lebanon to dismantle Hezbollah, which fired on Israel on March 2 in support of Iran.

The discussions reflect intensified efforts by the US and its allies to weaken the Iran-backed group amid the ongoing regional conflict.

According to two Syrian officials and two others familiar with the discussions, the idea was first raised last year and resurfaced around the start of US and Israeli military actions against Iran.

The timing of the US approach differs by source: Syrian officials say the request came just before the war began, while a Western intelligence source places it shortly after.

Tom Barrack, US envoy for Syria and ambassador to Turkey, publicly denied the reports, calling claims that the US encouraged Syrian intervention in Lebanon “false and inaccurate.”

The US State Department declined to comment on private diplomatic communications.

Ahmed al-Sharaa’s Syrian government has remained cautious despite historical hostility toward Hezbollah and Iran.

A senior Syrian official told Reuters that Damascus and its Arab allies agreed Syria should stay out of the conflict and focus on defensive measures.

Since early February, Syria has deployed thousands of troops and rocket units along the Lebanese border, emphasizing that these steps are strictly defensive.

Lebanon officials said they had not received any notice from the US, Syria, or Arab allies about a possible cross-border operation.

In bilateral and trilateral calls involving Joseph Aoun, president of Lebanon, and France’s president, Ahmed al-Sharaa assured that Syria respects Lebanese sovereignty and has no intervention plans.

The Lebanese presidency noted that while border coordination exists, Hezbollah has never been discussed with Damascus.

Syria’s reluctance reflects the country’s fragile post-civil war position.

While Hezbollah and Iran previously supported Bashar al-Assad during Syria’s civil war, the current administration seeks to avoid direct involvement in ongoing Middle East conflicts.

This cautious stance underscores the delicate power balance in the region and the risks of a wider escalation.