Is Al-Sharaa Waiting for Trump's Green Light to Deal with Hezbollah in Lebanon? An-Nahar Fact-Checks

The Fabricated Narrative

The article details a false social media post claiming Trump stated Syrian President Ahmed Al-Sharaa was awaiting his "green light" to confront Hezbollah in Lebanon. This fabricated statement also suggested that Al-Sharaa's selection as Syrian president was specifically for this mission, aiming to relieve the burden on the Israeli army and avoid American or Israeli casualties. The post implied an imminent, US-sanctioned military action against Hezbollah by Syria, painting a picture of a pre-arranged geopolitical maneuver.

This narrative, widely shared on platforms like Facebook, presented a scenario where a major regional conflict could unfold with external backing, fundamentally altering the power dynamics in Lebanon and Syria. The post's specific wording, including the promise of no American or Israeli casualties, was designed to make the claim seem appealing or plausible to certain audiences, despite its lack of factual basis.

An-Nahar's Investigation

An-Nahar's fact-check meticulously dismantled these claims. It revealed that the "green light" phrase originated from a question posed by a Fox News correspondent, Trey Yingst, to Trump, not from Trump's own words. Trump's actual response was a brief "Uh... I'm thinking about it," indicating contemplation rather than an endorsement or a promise of action. The article also found no evidence of Trump making the other claims about Al-Sharaa's selection or the casualty-free operation in any English or Arabic sources, highlighting the complete fabrication of the viral post.

The investigation traced the origin of the false statements to an unreliable Facebook page called "Al-Resala Al-Arabiya," known for publishing fabricated news. This page, managed anonymously from Jordan, lacks transparency and credibility, further underscoring the dubious nature of the information it disseminates. An-Nahar's thorough review of Trump's interview transcripts and other media reports confirmed the absence of the alleged statements.

Contradictory Realities

The fact-check further highlighted that the fabricated claims contradict established facts and Al-Sharaa's own public statements. Al-Sharaa has repeatedly denied intentions of Syrian intervention in Lebanon, emphasizing economic cooperation over military action. Crucially, during a bilateral meeting with Trump at a NATO summit in Ankara, Al-Sharaa explicitly stated that disarming Hezbollah was impossible without an Israeli withdrawal from Lebanon and that attempting it by force would plunge the region into chaos. This directly refutes the notion of him awaiting a "green light" for military action.

Al-Sharaa's consistent public stance, as reported in his speeches and interviews, directly contradicts the aggressive, interventionist role attributed to him in the fabricated social media post. His emphasis on economic lines rather than military ones, and his clear communication to Trump regarding the complexities of Hezbollah's disarmament, demonstrate a pragmatic approach that is entirely at odds with the viral misinformation.