Representatives from the Syrian government and Lebanese group Hezbollah held secret face-to-face talks in Turkey last month in an effort to ease rising tensions between the two longtime allies, according to multiple sources familiar with the meeting.
The discussions marked the first known direct meeting between Syrian officials and Hezbollah representatives following a shift in Syria’s political landscape. After former President Bashar al-Assad was ousted in late 2024 in a swift rebel offensive, relations between Damascus and Hezbollah, which had previously sent fighters to support Assad during the civil war, grew strained. Syrian authorities accused Hezbollah of using Syrian territory for arms transfers, while the United States reportedly encouraged the new Syrian military leadership to counter Hezbollah’s influence in Lebanon.
The delegation included members of Syrian intelligence and the Foreign Ministry, alongside Hezbollah representatives. The talks took place in Turkey, reportedly at the invitation of Turkish security and intelligence agencies, as part of Ankara’s ongoing efforts to stabilize the region. Turkey, a key regional player and ally of Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa, sought to facilitate the dialogue amid its broader strategy to promote regional stability.
According to sources comprising Syrian officials, a U.S. official, and a senior Lebanese security figure close to Hezbollah, the meeting focused on resolving specific security concerns and went smoothly. Syrian representatives reportedly assured Hezbollah that Damascus would refrain from military action in Lebanon aimed at disarming the group. In exchange, Syrian officials requested Hezbollah’s cooperation in halting cross-border smuggling and dismantling sleeper cells operating within southern Syria.
Syrian authorities recently announced the capture of a Hezbollah cell allegedly preparing rocket attacks in southern Syria. Hezbollah denied involvement, asserting it had no presence or military activity within Syrian territory.
While Hezbollah did not directly commit to Syria’s requests regarding smuggling and sleeper cells, it pledged not to interfere in Syria’s domestic affairs. According to the Lebanese security source, significant progress was made on security-related issues, with Hezbollah seeking to safeguard its position amid concerns that Syria might target it militarily within Lebanon.
No formal agreement was reached during the talks, and no public announcement was planned. Initial contacts between the two parties, brokered through Turkey, reportedly began around two months prior to the September meeting. Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani had previously expressed openness to dialogue with Hezbollah in July, followed by Hezbollah leader Najm Qassem’s acknowledgment of his group’s willingness to meet Damascus in August.
Notably absent from the negotiations was Iran, Hezbollah’s primary patron. The Lebanese source indicated that while Iran was aware of the meetings, it did not participate directly and expressed disappointment over its exclusion. Tehran’s absence and Syrian President Sharaa’s reluctance to establish direct ties with Iran at this stage were cited as reasons no final agreement was made.
Requests for comment from Syria’s Foreign Ministry, Turkey’s Foreign and Defense ministries, the U.S. State Department, Hezbollah’s media office, and Iran’s permanent mission in Geneva were not immediately answered. Details such as the precise location, duration, and potential additional meetings remain undisclosed.