Syria's new regime hits Hezbollah targets in Lebanon over claims its fighters were executed

Fighting on the Syrian-Lebanese borderline intensified connected Monday arsenic deadly clashes erupted betwixt the Syrian subject and Hezbollah-aligned forces. 

The escalation follows accusations from Syria’s interim authorities that Hezbollah terrorists crossed into Syrian territory, kidnapped 3 soldiers and executed them connected Lebanese soil. In response, the Syrian service launched artillery strikes connected Hezbollah positions, targeting what it called "gatherings" of fighters liable for the killings. Hezbollah has denied involvement.

The Lebanese paper Al-Akhbar, which is affiliated with Hezbollah, reported that the Syrian service successfully captured the colony of Hawsh al-Sayyid Ali connected the Syria-Lebanon borderline during the confrontations. Currently, astir of the warring is adjacent the colony of Al-Qasr.

Earlier this morning, the Saudi-owned Al Arabiya reported intermittent clashes betwixt the Syrian service and Hezbollah forces on the border. The study besides claimed that a Hezbollah ammunition depot successful Lebanon was destroyed by Syrian artillery fire.

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The Syrian Defense Ministry dispatched reinforcement convoys to the borderline with Lebanon successful Homs, Syria, connected March 17, 2025, successful effect to Hezbollah reportedly sidesplitting 3 Syrian soldiers. (Ebu Bekr Sakka/Anadolu via Getty Images)

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun addressed the escalating violence, saying, "What is happening connected the eastbound and northeastern borderline cannot continue, and we volition not judge its continuation. I person instructed the Lebanese service to respond to the sources of fire."

According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, astatine slightest 5 further Syrian soldiers were killed during the clashes. Civilians, including families with young children, were seen fleeing toward the Syrian colony of Hermel arsenic unit dispersed crossed the borderline region.

The recently established Syrian government, led by Ahmad al-Sharaa of the U.S.-sanctioned violent radical Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, issued a uncommon connection vowing retaliation against Hezbollah.

"They took them to Lebanese territory and killed them. The Ministry of Defense volition instrumentality each indispensable measures successful effect to this escalation by Hezbollah," the connection reads.

The struggle reflects deeper sectarian and ideological divisions. HTS, a Sunni violent radical with roots successful Syria’s jihadist insurgency and erstwhile ties to al Qaeda, and Hezbollah, a Shiite violent unit backed by Iran, correspond opposing factions successful the ongoing conflict for determination dominance.

Hezbollah fighters be the ceremonial of their commander, Wissam al-Tawil, successful the colony of Khirbet Selm, Lebanon, connected Jan. 9, 2024. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla)

"Hezbollah is trying to instrumentality vantage of the caller government’s weakness successful Syria, but the radical itself is successful a precarious position. It has suffered large setbacks from Israeli strikes, the autumn of Assad, and present caller adversaries successful Syria," Javed Ali, a prof astatine the University of Michigan’s Ford School of Public Policy and erstwhile elder manager astatine the National Security Council, told Fox News Digital.

The illness of President Bashar Assad’s authorities successful December marked a large turning point, arsenic Hezbollah had spent 14 years backing him alongside Russia and Iran’s pro-Shiite militias. However, successful precocious November, Syrian rebels launched a astonishment violative against Assad’s forces, conscionable arsenic a ceasefire was announced successful bluish Gaza, starring to the last illness of his rule.

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Newly elected Lebanese President Joseph Aoun is shown successful Beirut connected Jan. 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla)

Now successful power, HTS has pledged to ace down connected weapons and cause smuggling on the border, a determination that straight threatens Hezbollah’s operations. The caller Syrian authorities has already begun subject deployments to unafraid its borders, further restricting Hezbollah’s quality to maneuver.

"Hezbollah is facing a confluence of threats dissimilar immoderate clip successful its history," said Ali. "With HTS consolidating power successful Syria, Hezbollah’s overland weapons proviso way from Iran has been severely compromised. This disruption could importantly degrade its operational capabilities."

The emergence of HTS arsenic a governing unit successful Syria has besides drawn U.S. attention. While Washington has designated HTS arsenic a violent organization, analysts suggest that al-Sharaa's pragmatic attack should beryllium assessed cautiously.

"The U.S. is navigating a analyzable scenery successful Syria, and portion it does not officially admit HTS, determination are strategical interests successful seeing Hezbollah and Iranian power further weakened," Ali noted.

HTS has attempted to rebrand itself from its extremist origins, portraying itself arsenic a nationalist Islamist question opposed to Iranian power and Hezbollah’s enlargement successful Syria. While skepticism remains, the group’s power implicit cardinal Syrian territory disrupts Iran’s quality to support a nonstop proviso corridor to Hezbollah successful Lebanon.

A protester holds a placard with a photograph of Ahmad al-Sharaa and the words "It doesn't substance if helium wears a turban oregon a tie, a murderer is simply a murderer" during a objection connected March 11, 2025. (Murat Kocabas/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)

Beyond Syria, Hezbollah is besides facing increasing challenges successful Lebanon. The group’s losses successful caller confrontations with Israel person emboldened its home opponents, who present spot an accidental to weaken its grip connected Lebanese politics.

Former Lebanese President Michel Aoun echoed these concerns, highlighting 3 large threats to Lebanon’s stability: ongoing Israeli attacks, Hezbollah’s engagement successful cross-border violence, and the unresolved Syrian exile crisis.

"Officials indispensable instrumentality contiguous enactment to support the information of the federation and its citizens," helium said.

Further complicating the situation, Mounir Shehadeh, a erstwhile Lebanese authorities coordinator with the United Nations Interim Force peacekeeping ngo successful Lebanon, said "there is nary beingness of Hezbollah successful the northeastern Bekaa Valley, and this is known by the radical and tribes successful the region." His connection contradicts reports of Hezbollah’s enactment on the Lebanese-Syrian border, raising questions astir the existent grade of its control.

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Analysts accidental the semipermanent implications of these developments stay uncertain, but Hezbollah’s determination presumption is rapidly deteriorating. While Lebanese and Syrian officials are moving to incorporate the crisis, the hazard of further escalation remains high.