Hezbollah kills 3 Syrian soldiers in Homs countryside

Tensions escalated along the Syria-Lebanon border Sunday after Syria’s Ministry of Defense reported that Hezbollah militants killed three Syrian soldiers in the countryside of Homs, an allegation the Lebanese militant group promptly denied.

“A group from the Hezbollah militia kidnapped three members of the Syrian army on the Syrian-Lebanese border before taking them to Lebanese territory and eliminating them,” Syria’s state news agency SANA reported, citing the defense ministry.

The incident reportedly occurred near the Zeita Dam, west of Homs, during recent clashes in the region, with Syrian officials warning they would “take all the necessary measures after this dangerous escalation from the Hezbollah militia.”

Hezbollah denies responsibility, claims has no relation to any events in Syria

Hezbollah issued a swift denial, stating it “categorically denies any connection to the events taking place today on the Lebanese-Syrian border.” The group emphasized that it “reaffirms its previous announcements that Hezbollah has no relation to any events within Syrian territory.”

A conflicting account emerged from a Lebanese security source who told AFP that the confrontation began when “three Syrian general security personnel crossed into Lebanese territory at the village of Qasr, where they were shot at by local gunmen affiliated with a family involved in smuggling.”

The source said the reason for the Syrian personnel entering Lebanese territory remains unknown.

According to this account, after the Syrians were killed, “the gunmen handed over their bodies to the Lebanese army which in turn handed them over to the Syrian side.” Lebanon’s National News Agency (NNA) confirmed that the bodies were transferred to Syria via the Lebanese Red Cross.

The incident triggered military responses, with the NNA reporting that “a number of rockets, fired from the Qusayr countryside inside Syrian territory, fell on the border town of Qasr.” The Lebanese security source added that “an escalation subsequently occurred by Syrian security forces, who shelled homes in Qasr.”

The border clash comes amid shifting regional dynamics following the fall of Syria’s longtime president Bashar al-Assad, who was toppled in December by Islamist-led rebels. Hezbollah had been a key backer of the Assad regime before its collapse. The Homs countryside remains a hotspot for ongoing violence and tensions involving multiple groups, including Hezbollah and Syrian government forces.

Last month, Syria’s new authorities launched a security campaign in Homs province aimed at shutting down smuggling routes for arms and goods. They have accused Hezbollah of sponsoring cross-border smuggling gangs and launching attacks.