Syrian President Bashar al-Assad said Tuesday that the Middle East peace process had failed, in a speech about the conflict in Lebanon on Tuesday.

Lebanon’s army is preparing to move into south Lebanon as the United Nations plans to send an initial force of 3,500 troops to the region to enforce the truce between Israel and Hezbollah.

Syrian President Bashar Assad said Tuesday that the U.S. plan for a “new Middle East” has collapsed following Hizbullah’s victory against Israel.