UAE Entices Syria to Abandon Iran and Hezbollah

Lebanese newspaper “Al-Akhbar” highlighted on Saturday what it described as the UAE’s “enticements” to persuade Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to abandon his alliance with Iran and Hezbollah.

The newspaper stated, “Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is betting on a shift not only in Lebanon but also in Syria,” citing diplomatic reports that Israel is closely monitoring developments in Damascus and what the UAE-led efforts, in cooperation with Jordan, might achieve in convincing Assad to distance himself from Iran and Hezbollah.

“Tel Aviv is not betting on a major change in the Syrian stance, but its allies in Abu Dhabi and Amman are requesting time to persuade Assad to ask the Iranian Revolutionary Guard and Hezbollah to leave Syrian territory, shut down the headquarters of those linked to the Axis of Resistance, and ensure no material or military support crosses into Lebanon via Syrian territory,” the newspaper continued.

It also mentioned that “the UAE is attempting to offer significant financial incentives to Assad, along with a promise to launch a reconstruction project across Syria if it distances itself from the Iran axis. Jordan, meanwhile, pledges to eliminate all opposition groups opposing the Syrian government in southern and eastern Syria.”

The Lebanese newspaper affirmed that when Netanyahu speaks of a strategy of setting targets rather than setting a timeline to end the war, he essentially passes the ball to the Israeli army to develop the plans and mechanisms for implementation on the ground.

The article added, “The differences in how to deal with the Lebanese front are not of the type that lead to internal explosion in Israel,” noting that the occupation continues its efforts to occupy an area along the border from Naqoura to Shebaa Farms, ranging in depth between two and four kilometers.

It emphasized that since the start of the ongoing ground operation a month ago, the occupation has not managed to take control of even one border village, nor has the resistance allowed it to establish any strongholds.

The newspaper pointed out that what the Israeli occupation demands clarifies the reality of its plan, expecting an increase in the level of aggression in the coming days and weeks, acting on Netanyahu’s principle that “what cannot be achieved by force, can be achieved with more force.”