Syrian Officials, Hezbollah Held Secret Talks in Turkey

Representatives from the Syrian government and the Lebanese group Hezbollah held direct, secret talks in Turkey last month, according to six sources familiar with the matter, including Syrian officials, a U.S. official, and a senior Lebanese security source close to Hezbollah. The meeting, facilitated by Turkish intelligence and security agencies, aimed to de-escalate tensions between the two sides following the late 2024 ouster of Syrian President Assad by opposition fighters. Tensions had risen, with Damascus accusing Hezbollah of smuggling weapons through Syria and the U.S. encouraging the Syrian army to send forces into Lebanon to confront Hezbollah.

The discussions, which took place at Turkey's invitation, focused on shared security concerns and reportedly went well. One Syrian official stated that Syria assured Hezbollah it would not intervene militarily in Lebanon to disarm it. In return, Syrian officials requested Hezbollah's assistance in halting smuggling attempts across the border and dismantling its sleeper cells in southern Syria. Hezbollah representatives did not directly commit to stopping arms smuggling or dismantling cells but pledged not to interfere in Syrian affairs.

A Lebanese source close to the negotiations described the progress on security issues as "significant." However, no final agreement was reached, and no joint statement was planned. The Lebanese source indicated that communication between the parties via Turkey began about two months prior.

Both Hezbollah and the Syrian government had previously expressed openness to dialogue. Syrian Foreign Minister Assad Al-Shibani stated in July that Damascus was open to meeting Hezbollah, and Hezbollah Secretary General Naeem Qassem indicated a month later that he did not object to meeting the Syrian leadership.

Turkey, seeking to play a role in Syria's reconstruction and regional stability, reportedly pushed for the meeting. Notably, Iran, a key backer of Hezbollah, was absent from the talks. While Hezbollah participated with Iran's knowledge, Tehran was reportedly disappointed by its exclusion and Syrian President Ahmed Al-Shar'a's refusal of direct relations. This disappointment is believed to be a primary reason for the lack of a final agreement and public statement.