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Syrian government forces, mainly made up of fighters from the now dissolved Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham group, have clashed with Shiite clans linked to Hezbollah on the border with Lebanon, with both sides taking casualties.
The clashes began on February 6 in the western countryside of Homs. The Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) reported that the Border Security Department launched an operation in the border town of Hawik, mainly inhabited by Lebanese citizens from the Zoaiter and Jaafar clans. Multiple suspects were arrested, and weapons and illicit goods were seized, according to the state-run news agency.
The two Shiite clans are allegedly involved in smuggling weapons to Hezbollah, as well as in the trafficking of illicit drugs, mainly a synthetic amphetamine known as Captagon.
The operation escalated into clashes between Syrian government forces and gunmen from the two clans.
Al-Mayadeen TV, which is close to Hezbollah, reported that the Lebanese side captured two fighters, while Syrian government forces detained 14 women and children.
Syrian government forces used heavy weapons, including multiple rocket launchers, main battle tanks and drones. In response to the escalation, the Lebanese army deployed reinforcements along the border.
SANA said that a member of the country’s security forces was killed in the clashes, while Al-Mayadeen reported the death of three on the Lebanese side.
The clashes continued into February 7, following an overnight detainee exchange at the Jusiyah border crossing, which was overseen by the Lebanese Armed Forces. According to Hezbollah-affiliated news outlet Al-Mayadeen, the exchange saw the release of 16 women and children from the Syrian town of al-Aqrabiyah and the two Syrian fighters from the Lebanese side.
By the end of the second day of the clashes, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that Syrian government forces were in control of most of the border, including Hawik and the nearby towns of al-Qasir and Akwm.
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun discussed the situation on the border with his Syrian counterpart Ahmad al-Sharaa during the day.
“They agreed to coordinate efforts to control the situation and prevent attacks on civilians,” said the Lebanese presidency on its X account. Aoun also took the opportunity to congratulate al-Sharaa on his accession to the presidency.
All in all, both Syria and Lebanon appear to be willing to coordinate to secure the border. However, this will be another setback for Hezbollah which lost its main supply route with the fall of the Assad regime in Syria last December. It is unclear yet how the group could react once the conflict with Israel is over.
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the russians change sides in an orwellian way. kinda scary and impressive at the same time.
moron amerikunt vanya cannot comprehend orwell sides or russians
bella…bella…
that seems very convenient for israel.