Al-Sharaa quashes Lebanon war rumours: "This is speculation"

Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa has moved to quash speculation about a potential Syrian military intervention in Lebanon, insisting that his country's approach is aimed at ending the war there, not extending it.

"The rumours circulating about Syria entering Lebanon are nothing but speculation," al-Sharaa said in remarks reported Friday by Lebanese media, adding that "Syria's approach aims to end the war in Lebanon, not to expand it or become involved in it."

The denial comes after President Donald Trump recently suggested that Syria might be willing to intervene against Hezbollah in Lebanon, a statement that had fuelled widespread speculation about Damascus's intentions along its western border.

Al-Sharaa also addressed the sensitive question of the Syrian-Lebanese border demarcation, making clear it was not a priority at this stage. More pressing, he said, was the situation of approximately 1.4 million Syrian refugees currently in Lebanon and the need to find an appropriate mechanism to facilitate their return home.