Hezbollah Leader Offers to Meet Syrian Regime Amid Decade-Long Conflict

Hezbollah Secretary-General Naim Qassem announced his willingness to hold a public meeting with the Syrian leadership at a mutually convenient time. This statement follows Syrian leader Abu Muhammad al-Julani's own remarks expressing openness to dialogue with Hezbollah if it serves Syria's interests. The announcement is notable given that Hezbollah and al-Julani's forces have been adversaries for over a decade, fighting each other since Hezbollah entered Syria in 2012 to support Bashar al-Assad's regime at Iran's request.

Qassem emphasized the mutual dependence between Syria and Lebanon, stating, "A stable Syria is a support for Lebanon, just as a stable Lebanon is a support for Syria." Despite this, tensions remain high as Hezbollah-linked cells have recently attempted attacks in the Damascus area, according to Saudi media reports.

The potential rapprochement may be driven by shifting political and military realities. Hezbollah is striving to regain control in southern Lebanon amid Israeli-Lebanese cooperation against it, while al-Julani seeks to stabilize and consolidate his new state and likely prefers to avoid opening a front with Lebanon. However, questions remain about how supporters on both sides will react, given Hezbollah's association with Assad's regime, which al-Julani's followers oppose, and al-Julani's ties to al-Qaeda, which Hezbollah views as hostile.

This development comes after U.S. President Joe Biden suggested that the Syrian regime could militarily confront Hezbollah if necessary, instead of Israel. The evolving dynamics between Hezbollah and the Syrian opposition highlight complex regional alliances and the ongoing struggle for influence in Syria and Lebanon.