Naim Qassem, the leader of Hezbollah Lebanon, made his first public statement on Saturday following the collapse of Bashar al-Assad’s government, announcing that the Lebanese militant group has currently lost its route for obtaining military supplies through Syria.
During Assad’s regime, Hezbollah, supported by Iran, used the route through Syria and Iraq to transport weapons and other military supplies into Lebanon. However, on December 6, opposition rebels seized the border with Iraq, cutting off Hezbollah’s supply line. Two days later, the rebels took control of the capital, Damascus.
In his televised speech, Qassem, without directly naming Assad, said: “Yes, Hezbollah has lost its military supply route through Syria at this stage, but this is just a detail in the process of resistance.”
He added, “A new regime may come, and this route may return to normal, and we can look for other ways.”
Since 2013, Hezbollah had fully supported Assad’s regime against the rebels.
Now, a transitional government led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham has replaced Assad’s administration.
Naim Qassem stated that Hezbollah “cannot make a judgment until the new forces are stabilized and clear positions are taken,” but he expressed hope that the people and governments of Lebanon and Syria would continue their cooperation.
He added, “We also hope that the new ruling party in Syria will regard Israel as the enemy and will not normalize relations with it. These issues will affect the nature of our relations with Syria.”
The loss of Hezbollah’s military supply route through Syria marks a significant shift in the regional balance of power, as it now faces the challenge of adapting to a new political landscape. The group’s reliance on Syria for logistical support had been a crucial factor in its operations.
The evolving situation in Syria, particularly with the transition to a new government, could have far-reaching consequences not just for Hezbollah but for the broader Middle Eastern dynamics. As Hezbollah navigates these uncertain waters, it will be important to observe how the group’s strategies evolve in response to the shifting political and military realities.
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