By Amjad Qaimkhani
WASHINGTON: The United States has formulated a plan to eliminate Hezbollah by employing the Syrian army, according to international media reports. An Israeli newspaper reported that Washington encouraged Syria to send forces into Lebanon, but Damascus refused to become entangled in the conflict.
The idea of a Syrian cross-border operation into eastern Lebanon to help disarm Hezbollah was first discussed between US and Syrian officials last year and resurfaced around the time the US and Israel initiated hostilities against Iran on February 28 . However, Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa has moved cautiously, fearing that such a mission could draw the country deeper into the regional war and inflame sectarian tensions .
Multiple sources, including six Syrian officials and advisors, two Western diplomats, a European official and a Western intelligence source, confirmed that Damascus remains hesitant despite US encouragement . A senior Syrian official stated that Damascus and its Arab allies agreed Syria should stay out of the war and take only defensive measures .
Meanwhile, a US special envoy denied reports that Washington urged Syria to deploy forces to Lebanon, calling them “false and inaccurate” . In a post on X, Ambassador Tom Barrack rejected the claims that have been circulating in international media .
On another front, an American newspaper cited an Israeli intelligence cable suggesting that Iran’s system is not weak but ready to fight to the end. The report indicated that Iran’s primary military force, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), remains superior and capable of conducting intensive military operations for at least six months . Two US State Department officials have confirmed the authenticity of the Israeli intelligence document.
