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Al Hadath TV captures clashes between Syrian forces and Hezbollah militants along the border on March 17, 2025
The Syrian Army has launched a full-scale military operation to expel the Iranian regime-backed Hezbollah militants from strategic border areas near Lebanon, marking a significant escalation in tensions between Damascus and Tehran’s proxies. According to reports from multiple sources, including Al Arabiya and Sky News Arabia, the clashes have resulted in casualties on both sides and intensified Syrian-Lebanese security coordination against Hezbollah.
Syrian military forces have been engaged in heavy clashes with Hezbollah fighters in the town of Hosh Al-Sayyid Ali, a strategic border town controlled by Hezbollah since 2013. Al Arabiya reported that the Syrian Army has launched a sustained artillery and missile campaign targeting Hezbollah positions in the area. A Syrian defense ministry official told state media that Damascus seeks to “completely retake the town” and secure the border from Hezbollah operations, including smuggling and arms trafficking.
Sky News Arabia cited an official from the Syrian Ministry of Defense, confirming that the Syrian Army is working closely with Lebanese forces to secure the border. The Lebanese Army has also responded to Hezbollah attacks, indicating that the group’s aggressive actions are causing friction even with former allies in Lebanon. “Our forces have been ordered to respond to any attacks from Syrian territory,” a Lebanese military source stated.
#Iran News: #AhmedAlSharaa Criticizes Tehran’s Meddling as Syrian Leadership Changeshttps://t.co/NLUbskWt6W
— NCRI-FAC (@iran_policy) December 29, 2024
Reports indicate that Hezbollah militants attempted to push back against Syrian forces, launching rocket attacks into Syrian Army positions near Homs. In response, Syrian forces escalated their assault, leading to Hezbollah’s retreat from several areas. According to Sky News Arabia, Hezbollah has suffered significant casualties, with sources reporting at least 12 Hezbollah fighters and 8 Syrian soldiers killed in the ongoing battle.
The recent clashes between Syrian government forces and Hezbollah militants along the Lebanon-Syria border mark a pivotal shift in Syria’s stance toward Iranian influence. Hezbollah, long considered the Iranian regime’s primary military proxy in the region, has been instrumental in extending Tehran’s reach across strategic areas in Syria. However, the new Syrian administration under President Ahmed al-Sharaa is actively challenging this dynamic. Syrian officials have expressed their determination to “restore full control” over national borders and suppress Hezbollah’s unauthorized operations, signaling a move to reclaim sovereignty and reduce external interference.
#Iran News: Tehran’s Desperate Bid to Fuel Insurgency in #Syria’s Coastal Region Exposedhttps://t.co/AY7AElj62n
— NCRI-FAC (@iran_policy) March 8, 2025
This development poses a direct challenge to the clerical regime’s regional ambitions. The potential loss of Hezbollah’s strategic positions in Syria would significantly hinder Tehran’s efforts to maintain its so-called ‘Axis of Resistance’ against Western and Arab adversaries. Furthermore, military setbacks for Hezbollah could embolden opposition within Lebanon, thereby weakening Iran’s influence in the country.
The unfolding situation reveals deepening fractures within the Iran-led alliance, as Damascus prioritizes national interests over Tehran’s expansionist agenda. Facing military pressure from both Syrian and Lebanese forces, Hezbollah finds itself increasingly isolated—a development that could signal a decline in Tehran’s unchecked dominance in Syria.