Syria accuses Hezbollah of executing 3 soldiers near Lebanese border

17/3/2025 5:56

Syria's defense authorities on Sunday accused Hezbollah of ambushing and executing three Syrian soldiers near the Lebanese border, warning of repercussions for a "dangerous escalation."

In a statement, the defense authorities' media office said a Hezbollah unit captured the soldiers near the Zeita Dam west of Syria's central province of Homs before taking them into Lebanese territory and carrying out the executions.

"This blatant aggression will not go unanswered," the statement read.

Meanwhile, Syria TV reported that the Syrian military launched retaliatory strikes on Hezbollah positions in the Lebanese village of Al-Qasr.

For its part, Hezbollah swiftly denied any involvement in the incident. In a statement released by its media relations office and cited by the Lebanon-based Al-Mayadeen TV, the group said, "We categorically deny any connection to the events that took place today on the Lebanese-Syrian border."

The incident marked a significant escalation between the Syrian interim government and the Iran-backed Lebanese group, which has long played a role in Syria's conflict alongside the regime of former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.