Allegation of secret meeting between HTS-controlled Damascus administration and Hezbollah in Turkey

It was claimed that the Damascus administration under the control of the jihadist HTS and Hezbollah had a face-to-face meeting in Turkey in order to reduce the tension between them.

Six sources speaking to Reuters stated that the parties held at least one secret meeting in Turkey last month. It was stated that the meeting was the first known direct contact between the parties who have been facing each other for a long time.

According to Reuters, representatives of Hezbollah, Syrian intelligence and Ministry of Foreign Affairs officials attended the meeting. It was stated that the meeting was held with the invitation and mediation of Turkey's security and intelligence institutions.

Hezbollah sent fighters to the country to support the administration of former President Bashar Assad throughout the civil war in Syria.

After Assad's overthrow at the end of 2024, relations between Damascus and Hezbollah became tense.

While the new Syrian administration accused Hezbollah of shipping weapons through Syria, the organization was concerned that the Damascus administration might intervene militarily in Lebanon.

Türkiye ACTIVATED

According to sources, the strongest initiative to hold the meeting came from Turkey.

It was stated that Ankara wants to bring the two sides to the same table in order to ensure stability in Syria and reduce regional tension.

Three sources speaking to Reuters stated that Turkey attaches particular importance to being directly involved in the process.

Mutual security concerns of the parties were discussed at the meeting.

According to a Syrian official speaking to Reuters, the Damascus administration assured Hezbollah that it would not engage in military intervention to enter Lebanon and disarm the organization.

The same source said that the Syrian side asked Hezbollah to help stop cross-border smuggling and dismantle its cells, which are alleged to be operating especially in the south of the country.

HIZBULLAH: WE HAVE NO PRESENCE IN SYRIA

The Syrian administration announced on Tuesday that a Hezbollah cell, which was claimed to be preparing a rocket attack in the south of the country, was captured.

Hezbollah rejected this claim a day later and argued that it did not have any military or security presence on Syrian territory.

Hezbollah representatives did not directly respond to demands to stop arms smuggling and disband the cells, but promised not to interfere in Syria's internal affairs, according to a Syrian official who spoke to Reuters.

A Lebanese security source, who was stated to have direct knowledge of the meeting, said that the parties made "significant progress" on security issues.

The source stated that Hezbollah's main concern is "securing its rear front" against a possible military intervention from Syria.

However, it was stated that no final agreement was reached at the end of the negotiations and no public statement is planned.

IRAN WAS NOT AT THE TABLE

Another striking aspect of the meeting was that Iran, Hezbollah's most important supporter, was not at the table.

According to a Lebanese security source, Hezbollah attended the meeting with Iran's knowledge. However, it was claimed that the Tehran administration was disturbed by not being directly involved in the process.

The source argued that this situation was one of the main reasons why the parties could not reach a final agreement and the meeting was not made public.

Speaking to Reuters, a Lebanese source said that contacts between the Syrian administration and Hezbollah through Türkiye started about two months ago.