Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem has acknowledged that the Lebanese militant group has temporarily lost its key weapons supply route through Syria, following the recent collapse of Bashar al-Assad’s government.
This marks an important development for Hezbollah, which has relied on this corridor for support from its main ally, Iran, for several years.
In his first televised address since the fall of the Assad regime, Qassem referred to the loss of the supply route as a “detail” in the broader context of Hezbollah’s operations.
He maintained that this disruption would not hinder the group's long-term objectives. According to Qassem, the loss is temporary and could be remedied once a new regime takes control of Syria. He further mentioned that the group may also explore alternative routes if necessary.
Hezbollah has been actively involved in the Syrian conflict since 2013, providing military support to Assad’s forces in their battle against opposition groups. The group’s role has been crucial in bolstering Assad’s regime against the rebel forces.
However, with the recent advances of the opposition, spearheaded by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), which captured Damascus on December 8, 2024, the situation has dramatically changed.
HTS, a former al-Qaeda affiliate, led the rebel offensive that forced Assad’s regime to collapse after more than five decades of control by the Assad family.
The new government formed by HTS is transitional, and it is yet to stabilise or clarify its position on several key issues. This new development has disrupted the military supply routes used by Hezbollah to arm itself, despite frequent Israeli airstrikes targeting these convoys.
Qassem refrained from naming Assad directly in his address but acknowledged that Hezbollah would have to wait and see how the new regime in Syria develops.
He expressed hope that the Syrian and Lebanese peoples, along with their respective governments, would continue to cooperate despite the shift in power. Qassem also stressed that Hezbollah’s resistance efforts would remain unchanged, and the group would adapt to the evolving political landscape.
The loss of the weapons supply route through Syria is a significant blow for Hezbollah. The corridor, which connected Iran to Lebanon, facilitated the transport of weapons to Hezbollah’s stronghold.
While Israeli airstrikes frequently targeted these convoys, Hezbollah managed to build up an extensive stockpile of weapons over the years. This route’s disruption could impact Hezbollah's capacity to continue receiving weapons shipments as it has in the past.
Qassem also commented on the broader regional implications of the change in Syria’s government. He stated that Syria’s new rulers should not establish diplomatic relations with Israel.
This sentiment is in line with Hezbollah’s longstanding stance against Israel, and Qassem’s remarks emphasise the group’s continued commitment to resisting Israeli influence in the region.
In contrast, the leader of HTS, Abu Mohammed al-Julani, expressed a different perspective, calling on Israel to cease its airstrikes in Syria. He stated that recent attacks by the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) had crossed “red lines” and could lead to further escalation in the region. However, he made it clear that his group did not seek to provoke further conflict with Israel.
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