22/06/2026
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22/06/2026
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DAMASCUS, Jun 22: Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa said Sunday that Hezbollah’s past military involvement in Syria remains a painful issue for Syrians, but said Damascus would be willing to engage with the Lebanese group if dialogue served the interests of both Syria and Lebanon.
“There is a major Syrian wound that is still alive to this day, and Hezbollah is part of it,” Sharaa said in an interview with Al Mashhad TV in Damascus.
Despite that, Sharaa said Syria would not rule out talks with Hezbollah.
“We will sit at the same table with Hezbollah if it serves the interests of Syria and Lebanon,” he said.
Hezbollah openly entered the Syrian civil war in 2013 in support of former President Bashar al-Assad’s regime. The group later reduced much of its presence in Syria as its confrontation with Israel intensified in 2024. Following the collapse of the Assad regime in December 2024, Hezbollah’s military presence in Syria effectively came to an end.
Sharaa said both Syrians and Lebanese had suffered under the previous Syrian regime, adding that “some Lebanese parties remain prisoners of the past.”
Sharaa Warns Against War in Lebanon
The Syrian president said Lebanon’s crisis cannot be resolved through war or the bombardment of cities, warning that renewed conflict would carry serious consequences for Syria.
“The situation in Lebanon cannot withstand further polarization,” Sharaa said.
He added that there remains a major opportunity to stop the war and reach a political consensus that could help Lebanon overcome its current crisis.
Sharaa said Syria’s position is based on supporting the Lebanese state and strengthening its institutions, while seeking a settlement acceptable to all Lebanese parties.
He argued that Hezbollah “should find its place within Lebanon” and said Lebanese national interests must take priority over any other considerations.
According to Sharaa, Hezbollah has “encroached on the Lebanese state’s authority over decisions of war and peace.”
He added that any country where armed groups operate outside state authority will face obstacles to development, stability, and institution-building.
‘Different Approach’ Presented to Macron
Sharaa said he had presented “a different approach” to French President Emmanuel Macron for ending the war in Lebanon.
He also referred to remarks by US President Donald Trump , saying Trump had expressed discomfort with the current situation in Lebanon, though Sharaa said the comments had been “misunderstood.”
Earlier Sunday, Trump criticized Israel’s handling of Hezbollah during an interview with Fox News .
“I am disappointed Israel cannot put Hezbollah away,” Trump said.
The US president also suggested that Syria’s leadership could be more effective in dealing with the group.
“I am close to giving this to Syria,” Trump said, referring to the issue of Hezbollah.
On June 16, Trump said he had suggested to Israel that it allow Syria to “take care of Hezbollah” in Lebanon.
Call to Protect Lebanon’s Shiite Community
Sharaa called for reconciliation and a reassessment of past events, urging Lebanese parties to protect the country’s Shiite community rather than “gambling with it.”
He said the loss or weakening of any component of Lebanese society would be “a loss for the entire region.”
The Syrian president concluded that Damascus is focused on economic development and does not intend to abandon that path.
“We have enough courage that, if we wanted to enter a war, we would say so openly,” he said.
