Syria and Hezbollah Hold Secret Talks in Turkey Amid Tensions

Representatives from the Syrian government and the Hezbollah organization held a secret face-to-face meeting in Turkey last month, aiming to de-escalate tensions between the two sides, Reuters reported Thursday, citing six sources familiar with the matter. This is the first known meeting between the parties, who became adversaries after the fall of the Assad regime in late 2024. The meeting included Hezbollah representatives alongside officials from Syrian intelligence and the Foreign Ministry. It was initiated by Turkish security and intelligence agencies seeking to reduce tensions and open a direct channel between them.

One senior Syrian official told Reuters that both sides clarified during the meeting that there was no animosity between them. Damascus reportedly pledged to Hezbollah not to intervene militarily in Lebanon with the aim of disarming the organization, addressing a key concern for Hezbollah given the new Syrian government's strengthening ties with Washington. In return, Syria requested Hezbollah's assistance in stopping cross-border smuggling and dismantling dormant cells within Syria, particularly in the south. Hezbollah representatives did not provide a direct answer to these demands but committed to not interfering in Syria's internal affairs.

The report emerges days after Damascus announced the arrest of a Hezbollah cell allegedly preparing to launch rockets from southern Syria. Hezbollah denied these claims, stating the organization has no presence in Syria and is not involved in security or military activities there. A Lebanese security source close to Hezbollah confirmed significant progress on security issues, noting Hezbollah's primary goal was to "protect its flank" and ensure the Syrian army would not act against the organization within Lebanon.

Relations between Hezbollah and the new Damascus government are particularly strained. For years, Hezbollah sent thousands of fighters to aid the Assad regime during the civil war. Following the regime's collapse and the rise of President Ahmad al-Shar', the new government accused Hezbollah of continuing arms smuggling through Syria. The United States reportedly encouraged the Syrian army to operate against Hezbollah in Lebanon.

Turkey, a key ally of the al-Shar' government, pushed for the meeting. Three sources told Reuters that Ankara sought direct involvement in de-escalation efforts as part of its bid to establish itself as a central player in Syria's reconstruction and regional stabilization. Iran, Hezbollah's main ally and patron, was not involved in the meeting. The Lebanese security source stated that Hezbollah attended the talks with Tehran's knowledge, but Iran's leadership was disappointed by its exclusion from direct negotiations and al-Shar''s rejection of direct ties with Iran at this stage. This Iranian disappointment, the source suggested, contributed to the lack of a final agreement and public announcement about the meeting.

Contact between the parties via Turkey began about two months ago, according to the Lebanese source. Reuters could not determine the exact location in Turkey, the meeting's duration, or if additional meetings occurred before or after. The Syrian Foreign Ministry, Turkish Foreign and Defense Ministries, and the U.S. State Department did not respond to Reuters' requests for comment, and Hezbollah declined to comment.