Hezbollah’s Violations Rekindle Tensions at the Syrian-Lebanese Border

25th April 2025

3 minutes read

Hezbollah’s Violations Rekindle Tensions at the Syrian-Lebanese Border

Eight people injured in a Lebanese border village following a drone strike in retaliation for a Hezbollah rocket attack on Syrian army positions in Homs.

Tensions have resurfaced along the Lebanese-Syrian border amid a new escalation led by Hezbollah, resulting in the injury of eight people in a Lebanese village near the border following a drone strike apparently carried out by the Syrian army. The strike came in response to artillery fire originating from Lebanese territory, which Syrian authorities blamed on the Iranian-backed Shiite militia.

Despite recent efforts by the Lebanese and Syrian governments to restore communication channels and security coordination, Hezbollah appears determined to disrupt de-escalation efforts—a move widely interpreted as aligning with Iran’s regional agenda. Observers believe the group aims to keep the border front active to provide Tehran with additional leverage in its regional standoff with the West.

Activists and political analysts accuse Hezbollah of repeatedly violating Syrian sovereignty through its military operations deep inside Syria, placing Lebanon in a difficult position vis-à-vis the Syrian state and the international community. Increasing numbers of Lebanese voices are calling for an end to these actions, which endanger the country’s security and people, amid growing demands for the disarmament of the militia that is seen as a threat to both Lebanon and the wider region.

According to Lebanon’s official National News Agency, “eight Syrian refugees were injured and transferred by the Lebanese Red Cross to hospitals in Hermel following the explosion of a booby-trapped drone in a farm located in the town of Hosh al-Sayyed Ali, on the border with Syria.” The Lebanese army reportedly sent reinforcements to the area after hearing gunfire.

Meanwhile, Syria’s official news agency SANA quoted an unnamed Ministry of Defense source as saying: “Lebanese Hezbollah militias fired several artillery shells from Lebanese territory towards Syrian Arab Army positions in the Qusayr area, west of Homs.”

The source added, “Our forces immediately targeted the sources of the fire after locating the sites from which the five shells were launched.”

He continued, “We are in contact with the Lebanese army to assess the incident and have ceased targeting the fire sources within Lebanese territory at the request of the Lebanese army, which has committed to sweeping the area and pursuing the terrorist groups responsible for attacking Syrian territory.” The source did not specify whether the shelling caused any casualties.

Last month, the Syrian-Lebanese border area experienced heightened security tensions following Syria’s Ministry of Defense accusing Hezbollah of abducting and killing three of its soldiers.

In a meeting held in Saudi Arabia on March 28, Syrian Defense Minister Merhaf Abu Qusra and Lebanese Defense Minister Michel Mansi agreed on the strategic importance of demarcating the borders between the two countries and coordinating their efforts to address military and security challenges.

The two ministers signed an agreement stressing the need for border demarcation, the formation of legal and technical committees in various fields, and the activation of coordination mechanisms, particularly for dealing with any incidents along the shared border.

Syria’s new government is working to tighten security and strengthen control over its borders with neighboring countries, including Lebanon—targeting drug traffickers and remnants of the former regime responsible for ongoing instability.

The Lebanese-Syrian border is known for its complex geographic overlap, consisting of mountains, valleys, and plains without clear markers, despite the existence of six official land crossings along a 375-kilometer stretch.