The Syrian government and Hezbollah of Lebanon conducted secret negotiations in Turkey to reduce existing tensions between them. This meeting, considered the first encounter between the two parties in recent years, took place following increased tensions after the fall of Bashar al-Assad in 2024 and geopolitical changes in the region.
Details of the Negotiations and Their Objectives
The negotiations between representatives of the Syrian government and Hezbollah were held last month at the invitation of Turkish security and intelligence agencies. According to informed sources, this meeting included representatives from Hezbollah and officials from the Syrian Ministry of Information and Foreign Affairs, aimed at reducing tensions and advancing security for both parties. The main goal of these negotiations was to improve relations and resolve security issues between the two groups.
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One Syrian official stated that both parties emphasized the absence of hostility between them, and Syria assured Hezbollah that it would not intervene militarily in Lebanon's internal affairs. In return, Syrian officials requested Hezbollah's assistance in stopping border smuggling efforts and dismantling remaining sleeper cells in southern Syria.
Background and Recent Developments
Hezbollah had deployed its forces to Syria during the civil war to defend Bashar al-Assad's government. However, following Assad's fall and increased tensions between the new Syrian government and Hezbollah, the relationship between the two groups was severely affected. Damascus accused Hezbollah of smuggling weapons through Syria, and the United States has encouraged the strengthening of Syrian military forces to counter Hezbollah.
In this meeting, Syrian officials called for the cessation of arms smuggling and the dismantling of Hezbollah cells in Syria, while Hezbollah representatives promised non-interference in Syrian affairs. Lebanese sources also report significant progress in security discussions, emphasizing that Hezbollah seeks to maintain the security of its borders.
Although these negotiations are seen as a positive step, no final agreement has been reached, and no public announcement regarding this meeting has been made. It appears that these negotiations reflect the willingness of both parties to improve relations and reduce tensions in the region.
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