Israel Worries Trump Is Pushing Syria Into the Hezbollah File

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is due to hold a special discussion on the Syrian issue after U.S. President Donald Trump suggested Syria could take part in dealing with Hezbollah. According to a report Thursday morning on n12, Israeli officials believe this may be a real diplomatic move, not just a passing remark.

The meeting will examine how the Syrian file connects to Lebanon, amid Trump's recent comments that he is close to handing responsibility for Hezbollah to the Syrian regime of Ahmed al-Sharaa. In Israel, the concern is that Damascus is working behind the scenes to gain a foothold in Lebanon, despite al-Sharaa's denials that Syrian troops will be sent there.

Israeli security officials say they have seen signs in recent weeks that the Syrian president is looking for a way to extend control into areas of Lebanon. Their fear is a return to the pre-2005 era, when Syria was dominant in Lebanon. They believe Damascus is trying to strengthen its influence along border areas long used for arms smuggling and to cultivate local power centers inside Lebanon.

Israel is also worried that Syria could gain a larger role in Lebanese affairs through its relationship with Trump and its growing ties with Gulf states. In a Fox News interview, Trump said, "Netanyahu needs to be more responsible regarding Lebanon, maybe Syria will handle Hezbollah." He added that he was disappointed Israel could not "move" Hezbollah without blowing up buildings, and said he believed al-Sharaa would do a more precise job. Al-Sharaa responded earlier this week in a Gulf radio interview that Syria would not fight Hezbollah, saying, "You can rely on Syria to look for a safe path to a solution, but that does not mean war." He said Syria's role would be positive and in cooperation with Lebanese institutions, but warned that turning Hezbollah into part of the Iranian file is a very serious danger.