Hezbollah has sent a small number of “supervising forces” from Lebanon to Syria’s strategic city of Homs to prevent anti-government fighters from seizing the city, according to senior Lebanese security sources. The deployment comes as rebel forces, led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, have captured several key cities in northern Syria.
The city of Homs, located in central Syria, borders Lebanon, Iraq, and Jordan, making it a crucial transport route for Iran to bring military equipment to Hezbollah in Lebanon. Losing Homs could isolate the capital Damascus from the Syrian government’s coastal strongholds further west.
Hezbollah fighters were previously hesitant to deploy to Syria due to concerns about being attacked by Israel. However, with rebel forces advancing on Homs, senior officers have been deployed overnight to oversee some Hezbollah fighters who had been in Syria near the border for years.
The move reflects a dramatic shift in the battle for Syria, which has seen significant changes since Monday when sources close to Hezbollah said the group was not planning to deploy to Syria. The rebel advance, combined with concerns about Israeli attacks, may have prompted Hezbollah to reconsider its stance on deploying forces to the country.
Source: https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/hezbollah-sent-supervising-forces-syrias-homs-sources-say-2024-12-06