Reuters released a report on March 17 claiming the United States has encouraged the Syrian government to “consider sending forces into eastern Lebanon to help disarm Hezbollah.” Damascus is reportedly “reluctant,” it adds. Reuters said it spoke to 10 sources in Western countries and in Syria on the subject, and that the requests for Syria to invade dated back to last year. The request was again made as the U.S. was beginning its attacks on Iran in late February.
U.S. envoy for Syria Tom Barrack, who is also ambassador to Türkiye, denied the report, posting on X that “reporting regarding the United States encouraging Syria to send forces into Lebanon is false and inaccurate.”
