Syria rules out military intervention in Lebanon despite US pressure
Key takeaways
- Syria has ruled out military intervention in Lebanon despite US pressure to act against Hezbollah, saying it seeks to avoid escalation and focus on rebuilding ties with Beirut.
- Shaibani, who also invited President Joseph Aoun to Syria, is visiting Beirut, where he met parliament speaker Nabih Berri, a Hezbollah ally, for the first time.
- US President Donald Trump has repeatedly said that Syria could "take care of Hezbollah", criticising Israel's strategy in its war with the Iran-backed militant group.
Why this matters: an international story with cross-border implications worth tracking.
Syria has ruled out military intervention in Lebanon despite US pressure to act against Hezbollah, saying it seeks to avoid escalation and focus on rebuilding ties with Beirut.
By: FRANCE 24 In this photo released by the Lebanese Presidency press office, Lebanese President Joseph Aoun, right, meets with Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shibani, at the presidential palace in Baabda, east of Beirut, Lebanon, 2 July 2026. © Lebanese Presidency press office via AP Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani told Lebanon's president on Thursday that Damascus had no intention of intervening militarily in his country despite US pressure to do so, according to the Lebanese presidency.
Shaibani, who also invited President Joseph Aoun to Syria, is visiting Beirut, where he met parliament speaker Nabih Berri, a Hezbollah ally, for the first time.