Representatives from the Syrian government and the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah recently held secret talks in Turkey to reduce tensions between them, marking the first known meeting between the two long-time adversaries. This meeting involved Syrian officials and Hezbollah members, facilitated by Turkish security and intelligence agencies, to address mutual security concerns.
Hezbollah had previously sent fighters to support Syrian President Bashar al-Assad during the civil war. However, after Assad’s ousting in late 2024, the relationship became strained, with Syria accusing Hezbollah of smuggling arms and the US urging Syria to take military action against Hezbollah.
During the meeting, both sides reportedly discussed points of tension and found common ground. Syria assured Hezbollah that it would not intervene militarily in Lebanon, while Hezbollah was asked to assist in stopping cross-border smuggling and dismantling sleeper cells in southern Syria. Although Hezbollah did not provide a definitive answer regarding the smuggling issue, they agreed not to interfere in Syria’s affairs.
Despite progress being made on security concerns, no final agreement was reached, and no formal announcement was planned. Both parties had previously expressed an openness to dialogue, with Syrian and Hezbollah leaders indicating willingness to communicate.
Turkey played an active role in organizing this meeting, aiming to position itself as a stabilizer in the region following the conflict in Syria. Notably absent from the discussions was Iran, Hezbollah’s main supporter. Although Hezbollah attended with Iran’s knowledge, Tehran was dissatisfied with its exclusion from the talks, contributing to the lack of a conclusive agreement.
The meeting took place after two months of contact initiated through Turkey. While the specific location and duration of the talks remain unconfirmed, sources indicate that further discussions may be planned to address the ongoing security issues between Syria and Hezbollah.
With information from Reuters
