Syrian Regime and Hezbollah Hold Secret Talks in Turkey

Representatives from the Syrian regime and Hezbollah held a face-to-face meeting in Turkey last month, Reuters reported, citing six sources familiar with the matter. The talks were convened at the invitation of Turkish intelligence services to de-escalate tensions between the new Syrian government, led by Ahmad al-Shar', and the Lebanese militant group.

During the discussions, Damascus pledged not to intervene militarily in Lebanon in an effort to disarm Hezbollah. In return, Syrian officials demanded that Hezbollah help stop arms smuggling across the border and dismantle dormant cells within Syria, particularly in the south. A Syrian source indicated that Hezbollah representatives did not provide a direct answer to this demand but committed to not interfering in Syria's internal affairs.

A senior Lebanese official noted significant progress on security issues, as Hezbollah fears an attack from Syrian territory and seeks to secure its flanks. The meeting occurred amid rising tensions since al-Shar' overthrew Bashar al-Assad's regime in December 2024. Just two days prior, Syria announced the capture of a Hezbollah cell preparing to launch rockets from the country's south, a claim Hezbollah denied, stating it has no presence in Syria.

Despite the progress, no final agreement was reached. According to the Lebanese source, the primary reason was Iran's absence. Although Hezbollah attended the talks with Tehran's knowledge, the Iranian patron was disappointed by its exclusion from direct participation. Concurrently, al-Shar' has rejected any possibility of direct ties with Tehran at this time. The connection between Syria and Hezbollah began approximately two months ago with Turkish mediation, after both sides publicly signaled their willingness to engage in dialogue.