A developing situation in Syria is creating a new weakness for the militant group Hezbollah and its ally Iran, according to US envoy Amos Hochstein. Speaking at a conference in Doha, Hochstein stated that despite being a key supporter of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, Iran’s influence is waning.
The US brokered ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hezbollah took effect on November 27, marking a significant development for the region. While Hezbollah is not yet eliminated, it appears weakened, according to Hochstein. The envoy noted that Iran’s ability to supply weapons to Hezbollah in Syria has diminished, with some reports suggesting Iran may be withdrawing its support.
Hezbollah has sent small numbers of “supervising forces” to Syria to maintain stability, but the Syrian army’s recent defeats are largely unsurprising given their limited capabilities compared to previous years. Hochstein highlighted the significant disparity between the current situation and 13 years ago, when Iran and Russia provided substantial backing to the regime.
The implications of this shift in power dynamics have significant regional consequences, with Hezbollah’s status in Lebanon also taking a hit.
Source: https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/situation-syria-creating-new-weakness-hezbollah-iran-says-us-envoy-hochstein-2024-12-07