Click to see full-size image. (Syrian Presidency)
President Ahmad al-Sharaa has “pledged to help with Hezbollah,” United States President Donald Trump told reporters on July 8.
Asked whether Sharaa has made any “commitments” to him on “helping with Hezbollah in Lebanon,” Trump told a reporter while on his way to the U.S. on Air Force One after taking part in the NATO summit in Turkey: “Yeah he did. He’s done a great job. He’s unified Syria.”
“I’m not gonna tell you what he said, but yeah, he was great today,” he added.
Trump met with Sharaa on the sideline of the summit in Ankara, where he announced that the U.S. will be removing Syria from its list of state sponsors of terrorism.
The U.S. president offered high praise for Sharaa during the meeting, crediting him with a rapid and successful unification of the nation.
“He’s done a really fantastic job as president. He’s unified the country in a very short period of time,” said Trump, describing the Syrian leader as a “strong person” who is “respected by everybody.”
Trump further claimed that the situation in Syria was initially a “real mess” and a “very disjointed place” before the new administration brought it together.
“We released sanctions from the country, which really, I think, was a big boost,” he said. “We’re proud of the job he’s doing,”.
Trump has floated the idea of Syrian military intervention against Hezbollah more than once in recent weeks, expressing frustration over Israeli operations in the country. While Sharaa has dismissed the possibility, there have been credible reports of Syrian military buildup along the Lebanese border.
The decision to remove Syria from the U.S. list of state sponsors of terrorism may be a part of a deal with Sharaa against Hezbollah.
Any Syrian military intervention against Hezbollah would likely ignite a sectarian-charged regional war, potentially triggering Iranian strikes on Damascus and a counteroffensive by Tehran’s allies in Iraq. The U.S. and Israel may be hoping for such a scenario to offset their recent military setbacks against Tehran.
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