US wants intervention, but Syria signals diplomacy after FM’s Lebanon trip

US President Donald Trump has repeatedly called for Syria to take the lead in disarming the pro-Iranian Lebanese group Hezbollah. However, Syria has balked at the idea, and Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani’s decision to meet with Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, a key Hezbollah ally, during his Thursday trip to Beirut signals a different stance.

Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa has no appetite for a military adventure across the border, despite the government’s dislike for Hezbollah due to its past support for the former regime. The meeting with Berri, analysts say, indicates that Damascus wants to engage with all Lebanese political components, including the bloc closest to Hezbollah.

Syria and Lebanon have a complicated history. Syria occupied Lebanon from 1976 to 2005, but after the fall of the Assad regime in December 2024, a chance emerged to reset relations. Currently, relations are in a delicate transitional phase, neither a return to old tutelage nor a complete break.

Hezbollah, weakened by Israel in 2024, remains a significant military force. The Syrian government rejects intervention, fearing it could spark a wider regional conflict. Analysts warn that Damascus does not want to become a tool for an American or Israeli project to ignite internal Lebanese conflict.

During the visit, al-Shaibani also met Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, but the meeting with Berri was most revealing. It shows a practical reset, acknowledging the Shia role in Lebanon and offering support for internal dialogue and stability.