For the second time in two weeks, the Syrian government announced it prevented a shipment of arms to Lebanon.
This is a significant development. It highlights how the new leaders are seeking to interdict smuggling and show the region it is serious. There is likely some implicit messaging in this to Israel as well that the Jewish state can trust the new government in Syria to stop the flow of weapons to its enemies.
The statement from the state-run Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) is short. It says, “The General Administration of Border Security, following monitoring and surveillance, has seized a shipment of weapons destined for Hezbollah in Lebanon. The weapons were being smuggled through the Syrian-Lebanese border via the city of Serghaya in [the] Damascus countryside.”
The regime of Bashar al-Assad fell on December 8, with a new government formed under Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham leader Ahmed al-Sharaa, also known as Abu Mohammed al-Julani. He has been trying to restore law and order and unify the country and its many armed groups and forces, succeeding to some extent, but challenges remain.
The prevention of smuggling and its publication in state media show he is trying to emphasize the efforts of the new government.
Israel carried out hundreds of strikes on Syria on December 8 and the following days, hoping to make sure weapons from the old regime didn’t land in the wrong hands. The IDF also entered some areas in a buffer zone on the Golan and took over the top of Mount Hermon.
The new Syrian government wants Israel to leave these areas, and by stopping the smuggling of weapons to Hezbollah, it is trying to show Israel it can be trusted.
The report of the interdiction of smuggling is making waves around the region. It was on the front page of the UAE’s Al-Ain media. The point is clear. The Syrian government wants to showcase its abilities.
Hezbollah notably mentioned
The fact that SANA is saying these arms were “bound for Hezbollah” is also significant. On January 17, the Syrian government also said it had stopped a shipment of rifles and other weapons, including drones, destined for Lebanon. At the time, it did not mention Hezbollah, but now, Syria’s state media is clearly identifying the recipient.
This all comes as Israel keeps its troops in part of southern Lebanon past the 60-day period when they were supposed to withdraw. That ceasefire began on November 27, and it has been more than sixty days.
The IDF has left part of southern Lebanon, but the Lebanese Army must fully deploy for Israel to withdraw and Hezbollah’s presence to end. However, as revealed by the smuggling, Hezbollah is trying to re-arm.