Syria’s foreign minister traveled to Beirut on Thursday to meet Lebanese government leaders, in his first visit there since US President Donald Trump raised the possibility of Syrian forces combating Iran-backed Hezbollah in Lebanon.
Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa, however, has previously denied what he called rumors about any Syrian presence entering Lebanon.
The Syrian minister, Asaad al-Shaibani, met Lebanese President Joseph Aoun on his first stop, and then headed for a meeting with the parliament speaker, Nabih Berri, an ally of Hezbollah.
Syria’s government under al-Sharaa has emerged as a US ally but largely stayed out of the regional war between the US and Israel, and Iran.
Trump said last month he had spoken to al-Sharaa about combating Hezbollah, after criticizing Israel — which is at war with the group — for killing too many civilians in Lebanon and not getting the job done.
“I suggested to Israel to let Syria take care of Hezbollah, because to be honest with you, I think they do a better job of doing it,” Trump said.
Damascus wary of being drawn into war
Reuters reported in March that the US had encouraged Syria to consider sending forces into eastern Lebanon to help disarm Hezbollah, but that Damascus was reluctant to embark on such a mission for fear of being sucked into the war in the Middle East.
Al-Sharaa has since Trump’s comments said that “the rumors circulating about Syria entering Lebanon are completely unfounded,” according to Syrian state media.
Syria long dominated Lebanon under the al-Assad family, sending in forces in 1976 during the 1975-90 civil war and controlling Lebanon’s post-war politics until its withdrawal in 2005.
Reuters, Al Arabiya
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