Hezbollah’s Secretary-General Naim Qassem has declared unwavering support for the Syrian government as opposition forces, led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), make significant advances in Syria’s long-standing conflict.
Qassem, speaking on Thursday, criticized the role of the United States and Israel in allegedly backing what he described as “terrorist groups” aimed at destabilizing Syria.
"They will not achieve their goals despite recent actions," he said. "Hezbollah stands resolutely with Syria in resisting this aggression."
The statement follows the Syrian opposition’s capture of the strategic city of Homs, marking a key milestone in their offensive launched eight days ago. HTS forces, a former al-Qaeda affiliate, have also seized Aleppo and entered Hama, intensifying the crisis in central Syria.
While Qassem did not specify how Hezbollah plans to bolster President Bashar al-Assad’s government, the Iran-aligned Lebanese group has historically provided significant military assistance to Damascus.
Escalating humanitarian crisis
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has sounded alarms over the escalating violence, calling for an immediate ceasefire and unhindered humanitarian access. Speaking in New York, he warned, “Tens of thousands of civilians are at risk in a region already on fire.”
Guterres criticized the failure of previous de-escalation efforts and emphasized the urgent need for a UN-facilitated political process to achieve a nationwide ceasefire. The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) estimates that over 280,000 people have been displaced by the renewed fighting, with civilians bearing the brunt of the 13-year-long war.
“We are witnessing the bitter fruits of a chronic collective failure,” Guterres stated, urging all involved parties to protect civilians and respect international humanitarian obligations.
Turkiye pushes for political solution
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has renewed calls for a political resolution as the conflict intensifies. In a conversation with Guterres, Erdogan stressed the urgency of engagement between al-Assad’s regime and the Syrian people to forge a "comprehensive political solution."
Erdogan, whose country hosts approximately three million Syrian refugees, warned against further destabilization. "Turkiye has been striving to reduce tensions, protect civilians, and promote a political process," he said, reaffirming Turkiye's role in addressing the crisis.
Although Erdogan was once a vocal critic of al-Assad, his stance has softened in recent years as Turkiye navigates its geopolitical and domestic challenges related to the Syrian conflict
The latest developments come amidst a fragile US-brokered ceasefire between Hezbollah and Israel, following a year-long conflict that left southern Lebanon devastated. With many Hezbollah leaders killed in Israeli strikes, the group’s intervention in Syria risks further complicating the regional security landscape.
The renewed hostilities in Syria mark a dramatic escalation after years of relative stalemate. Observers fear that the latest offensive could plunge the war-ravaged nation into deeper chaos, further straining international efforts for peace and stability in the region.
