Syrian President al-Shara: Trump's remarks were interpreted as if Syrian forces would enter Lebanon tomorrow morning

Syrian President Ahmed al-Shara gave an interview to the Lebanon-based Al-Mashhad television. Touching upon the shared history between Lebanon and Syria and the political deadlock within Lebanon, al-Shara said, "The peoples of Syria and Lebanon suffered because of the previous regime. Unfortunately, some Lebanese parties have continued to be prisoners of the past. The solution in Lebanon cannot be achieved through war and the bombing of cities. A war in Lebanon would also have major effects on Syria. Lebanon suffers from the indifference of countries that were its allies in the past. The complex conditions in Lebanon and the lack of a strategic vision make it difficult to find a solution. However, Lebanon still has a chance; ideas that think outside the box must be developed, and traditional approaches must be abandoned. The polarization in Lebanon narrows the options for a solution. The current situation in Lebanon is not in a state to handle further polarization."

Criticizing Hezbollah's status and its influence on the Lebanese state structure, al-Shara emphasized the importance of state authority, stating, "It is difficult for countries that have armed forces operating outside the state's will to develop and progress. Hezbollah needs to find a place for itself within Lebanon, and Lebanon's interests must be placed above all other interests."

"We want the Hezbollah issue to be resolved and for Lebanon to remain standing"

When asked about U.S. President Donald Trump's statement suggesting to Israel that Syria should keep Hezbollah under control because Syria could do this job better, al-Shara said, "U.S. President Trump expressed his discomfort with what is happening in Lebanon, but his remarks were misunderstood. Trump's remarks were interpreted as if Syrian forces would enter Lebanon tomorrow morning." Rejecting the possibility of Syria intervening in Lebanon, al-Shara stated that Syria could play a positive role through Lebanon's state institutions.

Stating that Hezbollah has exceeded the authority of the Lebanese state in decisions of war and peace, al-Shara said, "We want the Hezbollah issue to be resolved and for Lebanon to remain standing. We are ready to meet with everyone in this direction. A great wound for Syrians is still fresh due to past events in which Hezbollah was also involved. The past must be reviewed, a safe environment must be provided for the Shiite community in Lebanon, and steps that would drag it into adventures must be avoided. The loss of any component in Lebanon means the loss of the entire region."

"Lebanon's security and stability are of great importance for Syria"

Recalling Syria's support for Lebanon and the deep-rooted ties between the two countries, al-Shara said, "Lebanon's security and stability are of great importance for Syria, because this situation is directly linked to Syria's own security and stability. We extend a helping hand to the Lebanese every day to help them find a solution. There is a great opportunity to stop the war in Lebanon and achieve political consensus. We are looking for a solution that will save Lebanon. Syria has begun to become a strategic hub on a regional scale, and Lebanon needs to benefit from this. We see Lebanon as the tourism showcase of the region, and we have common bonds. Syrian-Lebanese relations should start from common denominators, not points of conflict."

"The data shows that Syria is moving in the right direction"

Touching upon Syria's internal dynamics, economic goals, and contacts with global actors, al-Shara said, "We proposed a different approach to the French President to stop the war in Lebanon. Our vision is to re-support the Lebanese state, strengthen its institutions, and find a solution that everyone can accept. On the other hand, although major obstacles have been overcome, it is still too early to evaluate the Syrian model. However, the data shows that Syria is moving in the right direction. Syria's path is economic development, and we will not abandon this choice. For a real peace to be achieved, the appropriate conditions must be created. There are no winners in meaningless wars; all sides lose. What is important in the Iran-Israel war is that the clashes have stopped for now. If we wanted to enter a war, we would have the courage to say so openly."