Al-Sharaa wants economic, not military, Lebanon role

The Syrian president gave a special interview to al-Mashhad TV, hosted by Lebanese media presenter Tony Khalifa, which aired on Sunday, 21 June. The interview addressed a range of regional and political issues, foremost among them developments in Lebanon and Syrian Lebanese relations amid regional changes and a fast moving political context.

During the interview, al-Sharaa spoke about Damascus’ view of the Lebanese crisis and the role Syria could play in supporting stability and finding political exits from the crisis. He also addressed relations with various Lebanese forces and the importance of dialogue in resolving outstanding issues.

The interview also discussed prospects for cooperation between Syria and Lebanon and a shift toward strengthening economic ties and integration between the two countries, alongside the Syrian administration’s positions on ongoing regional transformations and their repercussions for the region amid growing challenges.

The Lebanese Crisis and proposed solutions

Al-Sharaa said the region is going through a sensitive phase, considering the change Syria witnessed to be a positive opportunity from which most countries in the region have benefited.

He added that some Lebanese parties are still thinking according to previous realities, despite Lebanon being exposed to a major war, noting that there is a major crisis and political deadlock.

Al-Sharaa said Syria presented its vision for a solution during talks with the United States. The vision is based on stopping the war, addressing its negative effects on Lebanon and Syria, and searching for economic, political, and social solutions. He stressed that stopping what is happening in Lebanon requires “creative,” not traditional, solutions.

Statements by US President Donald Trump about the possibility of Damascus playing a role in the war against Lebanese Hezbollah raised questions about the nature of that role, how feasible it would be, and the consequences of such a move for Syria, Lebanon, and the region as a whole.

Trump said in a speech before the G7 summit in France on 16 June that he had suggested to Israel that Syria take over dealing with Hezbollah instead of Israeli forces.

The US president’s statement came only days after earlier remarks about the possibility of recommending that the Syrian government help Israel in its war against the party.

In an interview with the US network NBC on 7 June, Trump expressed his desire to see what he described as “a more precise surgical attack against Hezbollah.”

The US president said his country was ready to help, pointing to the possibility of recommending that the Syrian government take part in the operation.

Trump repeated, in more than one form over the past few days, talk of a coming Syrian role against Hezbollah, amid Syria’s official insistence on supporting Lebanon’s sovereignty and institutions.

What is Syria’s role in Lebanon

Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa said US President Donald Trump had expressed annoyance at what is happening there and was looking to stop the war.

He said talk of Syria’s role in seeking a safe and calm solution had been misunderstood by some, as if it meant Syria would enter Lebanon tomorrow morning.

Al-Sharaa added that Syria can be relied on to support the Lebanese state, strengthen its official institutions, and create links among Lebanese forces, including Hezbollah. He said partial solutions involve major problems.

He also affirmed that Syria extends its hand to Lebanon every day and that the stability and security of the two countries are interconnected.

Dialogue with Hezbollah

Al-Sharaa affirmed his belief in dialogue, considering that closing it means moving toward war.

He said Syria wants to solve the Hezbollah problem and for Lebanon to remain alive, adding that Damascus is ready to sit with everyone.

He also said the time has come for the region to end the phase of wars and conflicts and move toward development and reconstruction, pointing to efforts to seek a safe solution for Lebanon and open new channels in the coming period.

Economic lines, not military ones

Al-Sharaa said Syria is looking for economic lines with Lebanon, not military lines, stressing that Syria’s role in Lebanon must be positive and in line with the interests of both countries.

He added that Beirut was historically Damascus’ maritime frontage, while Tripoli was the maritime frontage for Homs.

The Syrian president said Syria has now begun to form a strategic connection hub between East and West, and that the Mediterranean coast has become highly important in supply chains. He said the relationship between Syria and Lebanon should begin from points of convergence, not points of dispute, and that Lebanon should benefit from Syria.

He also stressed that Syria supports stopping the war in the region because its continuation serves no party, noting that Syria’s path toward economic development is clear and is a strategic choice for the state.

The Syrian president added that Syria is moving in the right direction according to the numbers, despite going through a phase of healing wounds, expressing hope that it will live up to the expectations of its people.

Al-Sharaa added that Syria has enough courage to publicly announce if it wanted to enter any conflict or war, stressing that it intends only good for its people in Lebanon and that its role toward Lebanon remains purely positive and is determined according to Lebanese and Syrian interests alike.

Hezbollah had intervened alongside the Assad regime in suppressing the Syrian revolution, which later shifted to armed action.

Hezbollah fighters carried out a number of crimes and violations in Syria that were marked by a sectarian character. The party also controlled several sovereign files along the border with Lebanon, with support from Tehran, which backed the Assad regime.

But after the fall of the regime, the new Syrian government worked to strengthen coordination and communication with the Lebanese government on several files, most notably border security and cases of missing persons in the two countries.

[Source: Enab Baladi English]