Syria Signals Willingness to Meet Hezbollah After Trump Pushes for Stronger Action in Lebanon

Syria has announced that it is willing to hold talks with Hezbollah if necessary, following comments by U.S. President Donald Trump urging stronger action against the Iran-backed group. The announcement came during Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shibani's first official visit to Beirut since Syria's new government took office, marking an important step in rebuilding relations between the two neighboring countries.

Speaking after meetings with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and other senior officials, Shibani said Syria remains open to dialogue with Hezbollah if circumstances require it. He emphasized that Damascus wants stability in Lebanon and prefers diplomatic engagement over military confrontation.

The visit follows recent remarks by President Trump suggesting that Syria could play a greater role in addressing Hezbollah's military presence in Lebanon. However, Syrian officials stressed that they have no plans to send troops into Lebanon and remain committed to respecting Lebanese sovereignty.

Relations between Syria and Hezbollah have changed significantly since the fall of former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. During Syria's civil war, Hezbollah fought alongside Assad's government, while many members of Syria's current leadership were aligned with opposition forces. Despite that history, officials say the new Syrian administration is prepared to engage with all regional actors if doing so helps preserve stability.

During the visit, Syria and Lebanon also agreed to establish a joint cooperation committee aimed at strengthening coordination on border security, trade, refugee issues, and economic cooperation. The move is seen as part of broader efforts to improve bilateral relations after years of political tension.

The development comes at a sensitive time for the Middle East, where negotiations involving Iran, Israel, and the United States continue alongside efforts to maintain fragile ceasefires in several conflict zones. Analysts say Syria's willingness to engage diplomatically could influence future regional discussions involving Lebanon and Hezbollah.

International observers are closely monitoring the situation, as any shift in Syria's approach toward Hezbollah could have wider implications for regional security, diplomatic negotiations, and the balance of power across the Middle East.