
Syria and Lebanon agree to withdraw troops from border town after tensions
Deal to restore calm in Hosh al-Sayyed Ali as Damascus warns Hezbollah of 'decisive' response to violations
DAMASCUS: Syria and Lebanon agreed Wednesday to pull their armies from the border town of Hosh al-Sayyed Ali, with Damascus vowing a 'decisive and immediate' reaction to any breach by Hezbollah after the two sides exchanged fire in recent days.
'Coordination with the Lebanese Army's liaison officer led to an agreement for both armies to withdraw from Hosh al-Sayyed Ali, ensuring civilians' return without any military presence inside, with forces stationed on the outskirts,' Syrian state news agency, SANA quoted Col. Abdel Moneim Daher, commander of the 1st Brigade, 52nd Division.
Daher stressed Syria's commitment to the deal. 'Any violation by Hezbollah will face a decisive, direct response without prior warning,' he said.
The move follows a ceasefire pact on Monday between the Syrian and Lebanese defense ministries to halt border clashes and boost cooperation, though details were sparse.
Tensions flared Sunday when Syria's Defense Ministry accused Hezbollah of abducting and killing three soldiers. It promised 'all necessary measures' against the 'dangerous escalation.' Hezbollah denied involvement.
Lebanon's army, meanwhile, said Monday that the Hermel border area of Hosh al-Sayyid Ali came under shelling from the Syrian side. In response, Lebanese military units returned fire at the sources of the attack.
Earlier Wednesday, Lebanese President Joseph Aoun emphasized stabilizing the ceasefire and securing border villages, tracking developments with army chief Gen. Rodolph Haykal, per a presidency statement.
The Lebanese military began deploying to the area, patrolling to maintain order, it said.
Syria's government aims to tighten security and reinforce control on its borders, including with Lebanon, targeting drug smugglers and remnants of the former regime that have been stirring unrest.
The border, spanning 375 kilometers (233 miles), features rugged terrain with no clear demarcation in many areas. While six official border crossings exist, the region remains porous, with frequent activity at unauthorized routes.
Hezbollah had maintained strong ties with the regime of Bashar al-Assad, who ruled from 2000 to 2024.
Assad, Syria's leader for nearly 25 years, fled to Russia on Dec. 8, ending the Baath Party regime, which had been in power since 1963.
AA

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Nahar Net
36 minutes ago
- Nahar Net
Three Alawites killed after attack on Syria government forces
by Naharnet Newsdesk 11 June 2025, 11:44 Three Alawite civilians were killed in western Syria overnight, hours after an attack on government forces killed at least one officer, a war monitor said on Wednesday. Syrian authorities said four civilians were targeted by unknown attackers in the Tal Kalakh area near the Lebanese border, killing two of them. Since an Islamist-led offensive toppled longtime ruler Bashar al-Assad in December, the Alawite community, which he hails from, has been repeatedly attacked. Britain-based war monitor the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the three civilians were killed in Baruha village by "local armed groups" who also set fire to shops and cars. The head of security in Homs province, Murhaf Naasan, said: "Four civilians were directly targeted by unknown people, killing two of them and critically wounding two others." The deaths comes hours after Syria's state-run SANA news agency reported that a security officer had been killed in an attack in the Tal Kalakh area. In March, sectarian massacres in the Alawite heartland on Syria's Mediterranean coast saw security forces and allied groups kill more than 1,700 civilians, mostly Alawites, according to the Observatory's figures. The Islamist-led government accused Assad loyalists of sparking the violence by launching coordinated attacks on security forces. The government has since launched an inquiry.


Ya Libnan
2 hours ago
- Ya Libnan
US envoy warns of assassination risk for Syrian leader Ahmed al-Sharaa
US Ambassador to Türkiye Thomas Barrack (L) shakes hands with Syria's interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa (R) during a meeting in Istanbul, Türkiye, May 24, 2025. (Turkish MFA) Syrian leader Ahmed al-Sharaa faces significant risks as he pushes for inclusive governance and engagement with the West, with concerns growing that militant factions may target him for assassination. 'We need to coordinate a protection system around [Sharaa],' Ambassador Tom Barrack told Al-Monitor , highlighting the urgency of safeguarding the fragile new leadership. Barrack, Trump's top envoy for Syria, also warned that delays in economic relief and the integration of foreign fighters could fuel instability and violence in the war-torn country. Following Trump's surprising decision to lift all US sanctions on Syria after meeting Sharaa in Riyadh, Barrack confirmed there are no conditions tied to the relief—only expectations of transparency and reform. The administration seeks to support economic recovery, Kurdish forces' integration, and efforts against ISIS. Sanctions waivers will continue until Congress repeals the Caesar Act, with Trump expected to sign an executive order removing decades of Syria sanctions. Syria faces ongoing challenges from Israel's expanded military presence and control over buffer zones. Sharaa has pledged to honor the 1974 ceasefire and hinted at future normalization with Israel. Barrack hopes both sides maintain a 'silent understanding' to avoid further conflict. Internally, sectarian violence and revenge killings threaten stability, but Barrack credits Sharaa's government with managing these issues under difficult circumstances. TURKEY TODAY


Nahar Net
9 hours ago
- Nahar Net
Army searches building in Hadath for Hezbollah weapons
by Naharnet Newsdesk 7 hours Army forces launched Tuesday a search in a building in a densely populated area of Hadath in Beirut's southern suburbs. A Lebanese military official said the forces were looking for weapons at the request of a five-member committee supervising the Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire. The building in the Sainte-Therese street had already been targeted during the the 14-month Israel-Hezbollah war. Israel warned on Friday that it would keep up its strikes on Hezbollah targets across Lebanon, after it struck four locations in Dahieh on the eve of the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Adha. The Lebanese army condemned the airstrikes, warning that such attacks are weakening the role of Lebanon's armed forces that might eventually suspend cooperation with the committee monitoring the truce that ended the Israel-Hezbollah war. It said it had tried to convince Israel not to carry out the strikes and to instead let Lebanese officials go in to search the area under the mechanism laid out in the ceasefire agreement, but that the Israeli army refused, so Lebanese soldiers moved away from the locations after they were sent.