The Syrian civil war has taken a dramatic turn, with Hezbollah significantly escalating its involvement. On Saturday, the Lebanon-based militant group deployed over 2,000 fighters to the Qusayr area in Syria, according to a source close to Hezbollah speaking to AFP. This substantial reinforcement aims to support President Bashar al-Assad’s forces in their fight against rebel groups who have seized control of key cities, including Aleppo and Hama, and are now threatening Homs and the capital, Damascus.
The source emphasized that, while present in the Qusayr area, these Hezbollah fighters haven’t yet engaged in direct combat. However, the deployment underscores the increasing desperation of the Assad regime. In addition to the ground troops, Hezbollah has also dispatched approximately 150 military advisors to assist in the defense of Homs, should fighting intensify there. This strategic move highlights Hezbollah’s commitment to the Assad regime’s survival, despite the considerable human and material cost.
Meanwhile, rebel forces, notably the Syrian Free Army (FSA), are making significant strides. The FSA, active in the Al-Tanf region bordering Iraq and Jordan, has reportedly achieved considerable gains against regime forces in the eastern Homs countryside, according to Anadolu Agency and local sources. Their success isn’t limited to the Homs region; a rebel commander, Hassan Abdel Ghani, from an Islamist-led alliance, boldly declared that rebel forces have begun the final phase of encircling Damascus. This claim, while vehemently denied by the Syrian defense ministry, indicates the rebels’ growing confidence and the potential for a major shift in the balance of power.
The Syrian defense ministry issued a statement rejecting the reports of rebel advances and asserting that its forces remain deployed throughout the Damascus countryside. This stark contradiction underscores the difficulty in verifying information from the conflict zone, highlighting the information war that is concurrently being fought.
Adding another layer of complexity to the situation, high-level diplomatic efforts are underway. Delegations from Turkey, Russia, and Iran—countries that have been involved in the Syrian conflict, often supporting opposing sides—are holding talks in Doha, Qatar. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi met with his Russian and Turkish counterparts, Sergei Lavrov and Hakan Fidan, respectively, to discuss the ongoing crisis. These three nations have been participants in the Astana process since 2017, aiming to find a peaceful resolution, despite their conflicting alliances on the ground. The outcome of these discussions remains to be seen, but they represent a continued, albeit complicated, attempt at international mediation in this devastating conflict.
The escalating situation in Syria, with Hezbollah’s substantial military intervention and the rebel advance on Damascus, raises serious concerns about the future of the country and the potential for further regional instability. The international community’s response and the outcome of the ongoing diplomatic efforts will be crucial in determining the next phase of this protracted and bloody conflict.
