Hezbollah chief says group lost its supply route through Syria

Lebanon’s Hezbollah leader Sheikh Naim Qassem delivers an address from an unknown location, in this still image from video released on December 5, 2024. Al Manar TV via REUTERS 

Hezbollah Acknowledges Loss of Syrian Supply Route Following Assad’s Overthrow

Supply Route Severed After Rebel Gains
Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem confirmed on Saturday that the group has lost its primary military supply route through Syria following the toppling of President Bashar al-Assad. This route, crucial for transporting weapons and equipment from Iran via Iraq and Syria into Lebanon, was disrupted when anti-Assad rebels seized control of the Iraq-Syria border on December 6 and subsequently captured Damascus two days later.

“Yes, Hezbollah has lost the military supply route through Syria at this stage, but this loss is a detail in the resistance’s work,” Qassem said during a televised address.

Adapting to the New Reality
Despite the setback, Qassem expressed confidence that Hezbollah could adapt, suggesting the possibility of alternate supply routes in the future. He also left open the potential for renewed access under Syria’s transitional government.

“A new regime could come, and this route could return to normal, and we could look for other ways,” he stated.

Hezbollah’s Role in Syria and Future Cooperation
Hezbollah first intervened in the Syrian conflict in 2013 to support Assad against rebel forces. However, as rebels advanced on Damascus last week, the group oversaw the withdrawal of its fighters from the area.

Now, with Assad’s regime replaced by a transitional caretaker government led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), Qassem emphasized the need for stability before evaluating relations with Syria’s new rulers. “We cannot judge these new forces until they stabilize and take clear positions,” he noted.

Position on Israel and Regional Cooperation
Qassem highlighted that Hezbollah’s relationship with the new Syrian administration would hinge on its stance toward Israel. “We hope this new ruling party will consider Israel an enemy and not normalize relations with it,” he said, framing this as a key determinant for future cooperation between Lebanon and Syria.

Hezbollah’s Recent Losses in Lebanon-Israel Conflict
The loss of the Syrian supply route compounds recent setbacks for Hezbollah, which has faced significant blows in its ongoing conflict with Israel. After nearly a year of cross-border hostilities linked to the Gaza war, Israel launched an offensive in September that decimated much of Hezbollah’s senior leadership.