Monitoring jihadists and the Hezbollah issue: The US is tightening demands on Syria

Tension between Washington and Damascus has escalated against the backdrop of the Syrian regime, led by Ahmad al-Shara, evading White House demands. The newspaper "Al-Modon" reported on Sunday on a meeting between senior Syrian and American officials in mid-July, during which US conditions were emphasized, particularly regarding the attempt by the al-Shara regime to avoid involvement in any military action against Hezbollah in Lebanon.

According to the Lebanese newspaper, a deep dispute occurred behind the scenes between political and military officials from both sides, driven by US aspirations, Israel's concerns, and the priorities of the Syrian regime, which remains exhausted by years of civil war.

A source told "Al-Modon" that at the mid-July meeting, the American side raised demands regarding foreign jihadist fighters. The primary demand was to establish a monitoring system for these fighters to prevent future attacks against the US and its allies, including the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF).

Another demand raised at the meeting involves implementing a plan for the "fair integration" of the SDF into the Syrian regime's security system. Past discussions between the regime and the SDF have highlighted two conflicting approaches:

• From the Kurdish side: integration of the SDF units in their entirety to avoid dismantling.

• From the Damascus side: dismantling the organization and integrating fighters individually into various units of the regime's army.

According to the source, the US hardened its conditions following the Syrian regime's refusal to act against Hezbollah.

"The Syrian government did not respond to the American demands, and preferred to study them and consult with the Turkish side," the source said. "Alongside this, the Syrian government presented an initiative to tighten control over Syria's borders with Iraq and Lebanon."

In this context, the Syrian side shared examples of confiscated weapons smuggled across the border, notably following the capture of a truck carrying dozens of explosive UAVs destined for Hezbollah.

Publicly, al-Shara has acted with caution, speaking of cooperation that excludes military involvement inside Lebanon. Syrian officials stated that Damascus views proposals by US President Donald Trump to drag it into an open conflict with Hezbollah as unlikely. Damascus maintains that its top priorities are border security, dismantling smuggling networks, and supporting the decision-making of the state of Lebanon.

Meanwhile, diplomatic sources told the Saudi website "Elaph" that Lebanese President Joseph Aoun asked US President Donald Trump during a closed-door meeting at the White House last week that Ahmad al-Shara not be involved in the issue of disarming Hezbollah. Aoun emphasized that "this is an internal Lebanese matter only, and no foreign party is allowed to intervene in its details."