Syria on Thursday (October 18, 2023) rejected a report that indicated a secret meeting between representatives of Hezbollah and government officials in Turkey. This news followed the publication of a report from a reputable international news agency that referenced various sources detailing this meeting.
Details of the Alleged Secret Meeting
According to reports, Syrian officials from the intelligence and foreign affairs ministries met at least once with representatives of Hezbollah in an unspecified location in Turkey in September. This meeting was described as the first direct encounter between the two sides since the fall of Bashar al-Assad, the President of Syria, in December 2024.
However, the Syrian foreign media office, affiliated with the Ministry of Information, explicitly stated that "no meeting took place" and labeled these claims as incorrect. In a post on the social media platform X, the agency emphasized that "these claims are false and such a meeting does not exist."
Turkey's Role in Facilitating Relations
Published reports also cited two Syrian officials, an American official, and a senior Lebanese security source close to Hezbollah, indicating that Turkish security and intelligence agencies arranged this meeting as part of Ankara's efforts to reduce long-standing tensions between the two sides. Turkey has increased its efforts to play an effective role in the region in recent years, and this meeting may be part of that strategy.
However, Syria's rejection of these claims may indicate the country's continued unwillingness to establish formal and public relations with Hezbollah. This is while Hezbollah is recognized as a significant force in Lebanon and one of the main supporters of Bashar al-Assad's government during the Syrian civil war.
The failure to hold this meeting could have political and security repercussions for the region and exacerbate the ongoing uncertain and complex situation in relations between Syria and Hezbollah.
