Damascus: Syrian government officials and representatives of Lebanon-based Hezbollah reportedly held a secret meeting in Türkiye last month in an effort to reduce tensions between the two sides, according to people familiar with the discussions.

The reported meeting would mark the first known direct encounter between Syria’s new leadership and Hezbollah since the fall of former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in late 2024. Six sources familiar with the matter told Reuters that Syrian intelligence and Foreign Ministry officials met Hezbollah representatives following efforts by Turkish security and intelligence agencies to facilitate dialogue.

The reported discussions focused primarily on security concerns and preventing further confrontation. According to sources cited in the report, Damascus assured Hezbollah that it would not intervene militarily inside Lebanon with the aim of disarming the group.

Syrian officials, in return, reportedly asked Hezbollah to help prevent cross-border arms smuggling and to dismantle remaining cells associated with the group in southern Syria. The request comes amid continuing concerns in Damascus about armed networks operating close to Syria’s borders.

The relationship between Syria’s current government and Hezbollah has been particularly sensitive since Assad’s removal. Hezbollah had previously deployed fighters to Syria during the civil war to support Assad’s government. After the change of power, Damascus and Hezbollah became increasingly divided over security and the movement of weapons through Syrian territory.

According to one Lebanese security source cited by Reuters, the discussions made progress on several security-related issues. However, no comprehensive agreement was reached and there was no planned public announcement following the reported meeting.

Türkiye’s role is also significant. Ankara has developed close relations with Syria’s new leadership and has sought to play a larger diplomatic and security role in the region. Sources said Turkish authorities encouraged the discussions as part of efforts to reduce regional tensions.

However, the reported meeting has been officially denied. Türkiye’s communications authorities described the allegations as unfounded, while Syria’s government also rejected the report, saying that no such meeting had taken place.

The reported talks also did not include Iran, Hezbollah’s principal regional ally. Sources said Hezbollah attended with Tehran’s knowledge, but Iran was reportedly dissatisfied that it was not directly involved in the discussions.

The disagreement over the reported meeting highlights the complicated political and security environment surrounding Syria, Lebanon, Iran and Türkiye. Any future dialogue between Damascus and Hezbollah could have implications for border security, arms movements and the wider balance of power in the region.

For now, the competing accounts leave the precise circumstances of the alleged meeting unresolved. While sources familiar with the discussions describe direct contact, both Syria and Türkiye have publicly denied that such a meeting occurred.