Trump Suggests Syria Act Against Hezbollah; Rubio Retracts Within a Day

At a July 21, 2026 White House meeting, Trump floated Syria intervening against Hezbollah in Lebanon, claiming Syria's president "would like to come in." Secretary Rubio walked it back the next day, saying the U.S. wants Syria focused on its own problems. U.S. intelligence called the idea a "recipe for disaster," citing Syria's 30-year occupation of Lebanon ending in 2005.