The U.S. has encouraged Syria to send forces into eastern Lebanon to help disarm Hezbollah, according to sources who spoke to Reuters. 

The idea was first discussed by U.S. and Syrian officials last year, according to Syrian officials familiar with the talks. It was raised again after U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran began. The proposal comes after Hezbollah, backed by Iran, fired on Israel in support of Tehran on March 2, prompting an Israeli offensive in Lebanon.

The report said Damascus is hesitant to carry out the mission, fearing it could be drawn deeper into the Middle East conflict. Sources also said it worries the operation could worsen sectarian tensions in Syria and Lebanon, both home to diverse religious communities including Sunnis, Christians, Druze, and Shiites.

A senior Syrian official told Reuters that Syria and its Arab allies agreed that they should stay out of the war and take only defensive measures.

After the story was published, U.S. envoy for Syria Tom Barrack said: “reporting regarding the United States encouraging Syria to send forces into Lebanon is false and inaccurate.”

Reporting regarding the United States encouraging Syria to send forces into Lebanon is false and inaccurate.

— Ambassador Tom Barrack (@USAMBTurkiye) March 17, 2026

Lebanon’s presidency said it had not received any “hint or notice from the U.S., the West, the Arab countries or Syria” about U.S.-Syria discussions on a potential cross-border operation. 

Meanwhile, Hezbollah fired dozens of rockets at northern Israel and the northern West Bank Tuesday evening. Sirens sounded across the Galilee, near Kiryat Shmona, Haifa, Hadera, and several northern West Bank settlements amid the attack. 

Many of the rockets were likely intercepted by air defenses or fell in open areas, according to military assessments.

#Iran #Breaking #USA #Israel
Hezbollah launched around 100 rockets from Lebanon at northern Israel in its attack tonight, according to IDF assessments.

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— BreakingNews World (@Breking911World) March 11, 2026

The attack came hours after the Israel Defense Forces warned of a planned major barrage. 

⭕The IDF has detected expanded preparations by Hezbollah to launch rocket barrages towards Israel in the coming hours.

The IDF is operating in order to thwart Hezbollah’s activities.

The aerial defense array and IDF soldiers deployed along the border are alert and prepared,…

— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) March 17, 2026

In a post on X on Tuesday, the Israel Defense Forces said strikes against Hezbollah infrastructure in Lebanon “continue.”

In Beirut, several command centers were hit both overnight and during the day. In the Beqaa Valley, three rocket sites and weapons storage facilities used to carry out attacks were also targeted, the IDF said.

🎯 LEBANON: Strikes against Hezbollah infrastructure sites continue

📍IN BEIRUT: Several command centers were struck both overnight and today

📍IN BEQAA: 3 rocket sites and weapon storage facilities used to carry out terror attacks were struck

— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) March 17, 2026