Former Pentagon official Dana Stroul criticized President Donald Trump's suggestion that Syria should take over from Israel in targeting Hezbollah, calling it 'misguided.' Trump made the comments during an NBC interview, stating that Syria could handle Hezbollah better than Israel. He expressed support for Syrian leader Ahmed al-Sharaa, who has denied any intention of intervening in Lebanon.
Stroul, who served as deputy assistant secretary of defense for the Middle East during the Biden administration, warned that Trump's proposal could lead to increased war and instability. She noted that al-Sharaa has made it clear that Syria will not send forces into Lebanon due to the risks involved. Trump's remarks also put pressure on Israel regarding civilian casualties in Lebanon, while not addressing Hezbollah's ongoing attacks on Israeli forces.
The situation is complicated by Hezbollah's previous violations of a ceasefire and the historical ties between Hezbollah and the Assad regime in Syria. Stroul emphasized the potential for renewed sectarian conflict if Sunni fighters from Syria were deployed against the Shia group Hezbollah. She also highlighted Trump's growing frustration with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's military strategy against Hezbollah, suggesting that it could embolden the group and increase tensions in the region.
A senior U.S. administration official stated that any agreement to end the U.S.-Iran war must also address the Israel-Hezbollah conflict, emphasizing that Israel retains the right to defend itself against attacks from Hezbollah.