Syria Denies Secret Talks With Hezbollah in Turkey

Syria has flatly rejected claims that its government held secret talks with Hezbollah in Turkey. The Syrian Ministry of Information issued this denial on Thursday via an official X post, stating plainly that "claims are false" and no such gathering occurred. Reuters gathered these reports from six sources across Syria, the US, and Lebanon, including two Syrian officials, a senior Lebanese security source close to Hezbollah, and one United States official.

The news agency says the reported meeting was designed to calm rising regional tensions. Turkey reportedly acted as a broker for this encounter. However, Ankara also pushed back on Thursday, labeling the allegation "baseless" in its own statement posted on X. The Turkish government denies hosting or facilitating any such private session between Syrian officials and the Iran-aligned group.

Deep animosity exists between Syria's current leadership and Hezbollah. This Iranian-backed Lebanese political party spent years defending Bashar al-Assad's regime before facing bloody clashes with the al-Nusra Front, an insurgent faction now led by former Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa. The new Syrian administration faces significant friction from these long-standing adversaries.

If the meeting happened as Reuters described, it would have been the first reported interaction between longtime foes involving Hezbollah representatives, Syrian intelligence officers, and Foreign Ministry officials. Sources told the news organization they spoke anonymously because of how sensitive the topic was. Reports indicate Turkish security and intelligence agencies invited the parties to discuss de-escalation.

A Syrian official involved in the talks reportedly said both sides agreed there was no mutual hostility. Syria allegedly promised Hezbollah it would not intervene militarily inside Lebanon to disarm the group, which is currently fighting Israel in southern Lebanon. In return, Syrian officials asked Hezbollah to help stop cross-border smuggling and dismantle its remaining sleeper cells, specifically those located in southern Syria.

Contact between the two parties reportedly began about two months ago through Turkish channels. A Lebanese source told Reuters this effort had already started by mid-year. The meeting focused on resolving tensions, and sources said it went well. Yet, Reuters could not confirm exactly where in Turkey the September session took place, how long it lasted, or if other meetings happened before or after that date.

Both sides had previously signaled openness to discussion. In July, Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani stated Damascus was ready to meet with the group. A month later, Hezbollah chief Naim Qassem said in a televised address that his organization had no objection to meeting Syria's leadership. Three of the sources told Reuters it was Turkey, a key ally of the Syrian president, that pushed for this dialogue.