Hezbollah to Stay In Syria, Despite Bassil’s Assurances

Hezbollah members carry the coffin of top Hezbollah commander Mustafa Badreddine, who was killed in an attack in Syria, during his funeral in Beirut’s southern suburbs, Lebanon, May 13, 2016. REUTERS/Jamal Saidi
Hezbollah members carry the coffin of top Hezbollah commander Mustafa Badreddine, who was killed in an attack in Syria, during his funeral in Beirut’s southern suburbs, Lebanon, May 13, 2016. REUTERS/Jamal Saidi
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Hezbollah to Stay In Syria, Despite Bassil’s Assurances

Hezbollah members carry the coffin of top Hezbollah commander Mustafa Badreddine, who was killed in an attack in Syria, during his funeral in Beirut’s southern suburbs, Lebanon, May 13, 2016. REUTERS/Jamal Saidi
Hezbollah members carry the coffin of top Hezbollah commander Mustafa Badreddine, who was killed in an attack in Syria, during his funeral in Beirut’s southern suburbs, Lebanon, May 13, 2016. REUTERS/Jamal Saidi

Head of the Free Patriotic Movement MP Gebran Bassil’s announcement that Hezbollah had begun to think about returning from Syria seems to be drifted from the current reality.

Bassil’s call on the Lebanese to embrace and support Hezbollah’s decision was not met by any official statement by the party’s leadership in this regard. On the contrary, Hezbollah Secretary General Hassan Nasrallah had confirmed, four months ago, that his party would not withdraw from Syria as a result of the Israeli airstrikes.

The FPM chief has pointed on more than one occasion to Hezbollah’s military engagement outside the Lebanese borders, declaring his rejection to this matter. However, he explicitly announced on Sunday that the party was thinking of returning to the Lebanese interior. His statements drew local and foreign attention.

While officials in Hezbollah declined to comment, sources close to the party said that there was “nothing serious and new that needs to be announced regarding the presence in Syria.”

“The party’s mission there mainly falls within the framework of carrying out tasks, as additional groups and members from Lebanon are heading towards the Syrian interior when there is a task that must be carried out in a certain region,” the sources revealed.

They continued: “Over the past two years, the party’s role in Syria has changed a lot with the decline in combat operations. As for the withdrawal, it is linked to the withdrawal of all foreign fighting forces, and this is supposed to happen within two years.”

The party refuses to set a date for its departure from Syria. In earlier statements, Nasrallah said the withdrawal would come upon a request by the Syrian leadership.

In remarks to Asharq Al-Awsat, Director of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights Rami Abdel-Rahman noted that the current mission of Hezbollah in Syria was to compensate for the inability of the regime forces to control all of the Syrian territories.

“Whenever the Iranian decision to remove Hezbollah from Syria is taken, the withdrawal will take place. We do not see any signs in this direction now, especially in light of Iran’s efforts to recruit more fighters,” he said.

In July 2020, Nasrallah announced that his party had reduced its forces in Syria, pointing to the “diminishing intensity of fighting on the Syrian land.”

Shortly after, he stressed that Hezbollah’s fighters would remain in all places where they had previously been deployed

The head of the Middle East and Gulf Center for Military Analysis - Inegma, Riad Kahwaji, referred to information about withdrawals carried out by Hezbollah from Syria, stating that the number of its fighters there has decreased by 50 percent.

“There are clear efforts being made to reduce the tension between Israel and Iran, especially on the Syrian arena. Therefore, the party finds an interest in reducing its presence there, especially after its bases have become exposed throughout the Syrian soil,” he told Asharq Al-Awsat.



Why Is Israel Repeating Claims of Weapons Smuggling from Egypt?

A general view of the Philadelphi Corridor along the border between southern Gaza and Egypt (AFP)
A general view of the Philadelphi Corridor along the border between southern Gaza and Egypt (AFP)
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Why Is Israel Repeating Claims of Weapons Smuggling from Egypt?

A general view of the Philadelphi Corridor along the border between southern Gaza and Egypt (AFP)
A general view of the Philadelphi Corridor along the border between southern Gaza and Egypt (AFP)

Israel said its military had downed a drone carrying weapons that it claimed entered from Egyptian territory, in an incident that experts say reflects ongoing tensions between the two neighbors and may be aimed at pressuring Cairo over its opposition to the displacement of Palestinians from Gaza.

In a statement on Tuesday evening, the Israeli military said it had detected a drone attempting to smuggle weapons from Egypt into Israel around the Paran Brigade, near the border.

The drone was intercepted by Israeli forces. Upon arrival at the scene, security personnel located the drone, four weapons and ammunition, the army said, adding that the seized items were handed over to Israeli police.

The French news agency AFP also cited the statement, noting no casualties were reported.

The incident is the latest in a series of claims by Israel alleging that drones or weapons have entered its territory from Egypt.

In February, Israel said it had shot down a drone crossing from Egypt, and in October, it reported intercepting another drone it said was smuggling arms.

Egypt has not issued an official response to the latest incident, but a senior Egyptian military analyst dismissed the Israeli claims.

Retired General Samir Farag told Asharq Al-Awsat that Egyptian territory is “secure and tightly controlled,” rejecting any suggestion that it is being used to smuggle arms into Israel.

He said the repeated Israeli claims were a “pretext to justify the continued mobilization of the Israeli army and the war on Gaza” amid growing domestic unrest in Israel.

Cairo has been a central mediator in ceasefire talks between Israel and Hamas and has staunchly opposed any plan to forcibly displace Palestinians from the besieged enclave.

Israel has recently seen mounting anti-war protests from current and former soldiers, as well as civilians.

The demonstrations were sparked by an April 9 letter signed by a group of Israeli air force pilots demanding the immediate release of hostages held in Gaza—even if it meant halting the war.

The letter has since been backed by more soldiers, artists, intellectuals and public figures, further fueling pressure on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government to reconsider its war strategy.

Former Egyptian diplomats and analysts have also dismissed Israeli claims that a drone carrying weapons entered its territory from Egypt, describing the move as part of a broader strategy by Tel Aviv to apply psychological and political pressure amid strained bilateral ties.

Ambassador Rakha Ahmed Hassan, a former assistant to Egypt’s foreign minister, said Israel’s allegations are consistent with its use of “hybrid warfare,” which includes military, psychological, and media tactics designed to manipulate other parties.

“These accusations are baseless,” Hassan told Asharq Al-Awsat, adding that their repetition reflects growing internal pressure in Israel—both economic and military—as well as tension in relations with Cairo.

Hassan said Tel Aviv is frustrated with Egypt’s firm rejection of any plan to forcibly displace Palestinians from Gaza and its active diplomatic efforts to rally international support for reconstruction without resettlement.

“Israel is trying to deflect attention by repeatedly targeting Egypt’s role,” he said, pointing to recent Israeli media reports questioning Egypt’s military buildup in Sinai.

Israeli outlets have published reports in recent days alleging an unprecedented Egyptian military presence near the border, which some in Israel have claimed violates the 1979 peace treaty between the two countries.

Dr. Said Okasha, an expert on Israeli affairs at Egypt’s Al-Ahram Center for Political and Strategic Studies, echoed these concerns, saying the drone claim is a reflection of current tensions with Cairo.

“It’s puzzling that Israel would make such statements publicly when there are well-established channels for handling border security issues through joint coordination committees,” Okasha said.

He added that the move appears aimed at undermining Egypt’s credibility as a mediator in the Gaza ceasefire talks while also serving as a distraction for Israel’s domestic audience amid growing protests over the government’s inability to end the conflict.