Hezbollah Lebanon officially denied reports of armed clashes between its militants and the army loyal to Bashar al-Assad on Syrian soil, as well as the deaths of its forces in retaliatory airstrikes by the Syrian army. Hezbollah's statement was published on Friday, June 18, in the organization's official media, including Al-Manar and affiliated outlets. Some Arab media had reported in recent days that Hezbollah fighters clashed with Syrian army soldiers in Syria, resulting in the deaths of several Syrian forces, including a field commander, and that the Syrian army retaliated by bombing Hezbollah positions. These reports indicated that Hezbollah, feeling empowered by its intervention in Syria, sought a commanding role in some battlefronts, leading to armed conflict with Assad's army. According to the reports, which Hezbollah has denied, the mentioned clashes occurred early Thursday, June 17, in two southern villages of Aleppo. According to the website 'Ayna Syria,' Sharif Shahada, a member of the Syrian parliament and a supporter of Bashar al-Assad, wrote on his Facebook page that Hezbollah 'has violated Syria's national sovereignty, which is a red line.' Mr. Shahada stated, 'Decision-making in the battlefield must be made by the Syrian army, and any disagreements with allies must be resolved quickly.' On the other hand, Hezbollah's statement on Friday emphasized that the group maintains 'deep' relations and a 'strong' alliance with the Syrian army and 'other allies.' The statement also claimed that recent casualties of the organization in Syria were killed in battles against 'takfiri terrorists,' not in attacks by the Syrian army. Hezbollah added that its forces will remain 'until complete victory' in Syria. The organization's fighters have been deployed in Syria since 2012, aligning with forces loyal to Bashar al-Assad in battles against opposition groups. According to unconfirmed reports, more than two thousand Hezbollah members have been killed in the fight for Bashar al-Assad's regime, and nearly five thousand other members have been injured in Syria. Mustafa Badreddine, the commander of Hezbollah's military branch, was killed in Syria last month; Hezbollah attributed his death to takfiri forces in Syria and denied that he was killed by Israel.
Hezbollah Lebanon Denies Clashes with Assad's Army
Hezbollah has officially denied reports of clashes with the Syrian army and the deaths of its members in airstrikes, asserting its strong alliance with Assad's forces. The denial comes amid claims that Hezbollah sought a commanding role in the conflict, which could indicate tensions within the pro-Assad coalition. This situation is significant as it highlights the complexities of alliances in the Syrian civil war.
👥 Key Players
📰 What Happened
Hezbollah denied reports of armed clashes with the Syrian army and subsequent airstrikes by the Syrian forces on its positions. The group maintains its strong alliance with Assad's forces despite allegations of seeking a commanding role in the conflict.
- Hezbollah denied reports of clashes and airstrikes by the Syrian army.
- Hezbollah claims its recent casualties were due to battles with 'takfiri terrorists.'
💡 Why It Matters
📚 Background
Hezbollah has been actively involved in the Syrian civil war since 2012, supporting Assad's regime against various opposition groups. The group's involvement is part of Iran's broader strategy to maintain influence in the region.
🏷️ Entities Mentioned
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