Syria’s actions against Hezbollah weapons smuggling showcase its regional commitment – analysis

Syria's Interior Ministry recently intercepted a significant weapons shipment bound for Hezbollah near the Syrian-Iraqi border, according to the Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA). This action comes as the US seeks progress on trilateral talks to extend Lebanese government control in southern Lebanon, aiming to remove Hezbollah. The seized weapons included "long-range missiles, guided anti-tank missiles, and drones." This interdiction highlights Syria's commitment to disrupting arms flows to Hezbollah, which typically originate from Iran via Iraq and often traverse Syria. The new Syrian government, which came to power after the fall of the Assad regime, is actively working against these Iranian-backed smuggling networks. Some US-trained Syrian rebels, now integrated into Interior Ministry units, may have contributed to this success, as "investigations were continuing to identify everyone involved in the smuggling operation."