Reports: U.S. seeks Syrian role against Hezbollah as Israel warns of renewed fighting

Lebanese and Saudi reports said Syria has been discussing an American request to help act in Lebanon against Hezbollah, but is setting heavy conditions and fears being dragged into military escalation, sectarian unrest, and an Iranian-Iraqi response. The claims come as Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa faces pressure over whether Damascus would be willing to play a role in Lebanon.

At the same time, Israel's military chief, Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir, told troops that Hezbollah has been badly weakened and that the IDF must remain ready to stop it from rebuilding. Speaking during an operational assessment with commanders of Division 91, he said, "Hezbollah suffered a severe and deep blow, and we are committed to being prepared to continue action and prevent its recovery." He added that Hezbollah is "in a very difficult situation" and that in the last two days alone Israel had disrupted a significant mid-level command chain in the Bader units and other formations.

Zamir said one of the Northern Command's main current focuses is the areas of Ali Tahar and the Beaufort, describing them as an underground fortress Hezbollah spent 20 years building. He said the ceasefire is fragile and the army must be ready for a quick return to combat, for threat prevention, and for a rapid shift to attack if needed, with all of the IDF's resources dedicated to that task.

He also praised soldiers of the 401st Brigade, saying their determination remained exceptional despite losses in personnel and command positions during the war. "You cannot stop the 401 Brigade," he said, calling their spirit the spirit of the IDF. The remarks were made on June 21, 2026, amid broader regional claims that Syria may be pulled into the Lebanon file.