Syria open to talks with Hezbollah if needed, FM says

Syria is willing to hold talks with Hezbollah if doing so serves its national interests, Foreign Minister Asaad Al-Shibani said during a visit to Lebanon on Thursday, signalling a pragmatic approach despite years of hostility between the two sides.

Al-Shibani made the remarks during his first official trip to Beirut, where he met Lebanese President Joseph Aoun, Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri and other senior officials, according to Lebanon‍‍`s state news agency.

He said the issue of Hezbollah was not discussed during the meetings but noted that Damascus remained open to engaging with the Iran-backed group if circumstances required.

The visit came weeks after US President Donald Trump suggested Syria could play a role in confronting Hezbollah inside Lebanon. Syrian President Ahmed Al-Sharaa has since rejected reports claiming Syrian forces could be deployed across the border.

Syria‍‍`s current leadership, which took power after the fall of former President Bashar Assad in 2024, fought against Hezbollah during the country‍‍`s civil war, when the Lebanese group backed Assad‍‍`s government.

Now in power, Damascus has sought to balance regional relations while focusing on rebuilding the country after more than a decade of conflict.

In a statement following the talks, the Lebanese presidency said both countries shared an interest in maintaining stability and that Al-Sharaa had assured Lebanon that Syria would not interfere in its internal affairs.

Reuters reported earlier this year that the United States had discussed the possibility of Syria helping to curb Hezbollah‍‍`s influence in eastern Lebanon, although Damascus was said to be reluctant to become involved because of the risk of widening regional tensions. US envoy Tom Barrack later denied those reports.

Syria maintained a dominant political and military presence in Lebanon for nearly three decades before withdrawing its troops in 2005. Analysts say any future Syrian security role in Lebanon could inflame sectarian tensions in both countries.