Syria rejects Lebanese trap: Damascus, Beirut, and Tel Aviv send Trump back to his illusions

President Donald Trump's suggestion at the G7 summit in Évian that Syria should take over the Hezbollah file in Lebanon instead of Israel has triggered a series of rejections. Damascus firmly opposes any military adventure in Lebanon, Beirut insists on its sovereignty, and Tel Aviv views the proposal as a thinly veiled warning to Prime Minister Netanyahu.

Trump stated he "suggested to Israel to let Syria handle Hezbollah" in Lebanon, a rare criticism of Netanyahu's strategy. He believed Syria "would do a better job." However, this suggestion has failed to convince anyone.

Syria's response was a clear and reasoned refusal. Syrian presidential media advisor Ahmad Zaydan explained that Damascus's vision for Lebanon involves "supporting the extension of the Lebanese state's authority," not military intervention. He declared, "Whoever still reasons with the mentality of 1976 knows that today is December 8, 2024, the moment of the new Syria." Syrian President Ahmad al-Charaa also indicated that Damascus prefers to help end the conflict in Lebanon rather than be drawn into it, stating unequivocally, "The time for Syria's military intervention in Lebanon is over." A fragile Syria refuses to undertake a war that could reignite internal divisions and jeopardize its normalization efforts.

In Beirut, the reaction was unanimous across the political spectrum, with a strong emphasis on sovereignty. Tel Aviv, while not taking the proposal seriously on its substance, perfectly decoded its political subtext. Political and military researcher Rachid Hourani warned of the risks of such an adventure, noting that Syria would be accused by its adversaries of serving Israel's interests.