Syrian Government and Hezbollah Held First Known Direct Talks, Sources Say

Syrian government officials and representatives of the Lebanese group Hezbollah held a secret meeting in Turkey in September, according to six people briefed on the talks, Reuters reported. The meeting, if confirmed, would be the first known face-to-face talks between the sides.

The reported discussions were intended to reduce tensions and address security concerns. Reuters said its sources included two Syrian officials, a U.S. official and a senior Lebanese security source close to Hezbollah. The sources spoke anonymously.

After Reuters published its report, Turkey’s communications directorate said the claim was “entirely unfounded” and called details about the meeting fabricated. The Syrian government also denied that a meeting had taken place. Hezbollah declined to comment to Reuters.

Security issues reportedly discussed

According to the sources cited by Reuters, Syrian officials assured Hezbollah that Syria would not intervene militarily in Lebanon to disarm the group. The Syrian side reportedly asked Hezbollah to help stop cross-border weapons smuggling and dismantle any remaining Hezbollah sleeper cells in southern Syria.

One Syrian official told Reuters that Hezbollah did not directly answer those requests but pledged not to interfere in Syria’s affairs. A Lebanese source familiar with the meeting said progress had been made on security issues. The same source and a Syrian official said no final agreement was reached and no public announcement had been planned.

Reuters could not confirm where in Turkey the meeting took place, how long it lasted, or whether other meetings were held before or after it.

Regional tensions behind the reported meeting

Relations between Syria’s new authorities and Hezbollah have been strained since Bashar al-Assad was ousted in late 2024. Hezbollah had sent fighters to Syria during the civil war to support Assad’s government. Since the change of power, Damascus has accused the group of transferring weapons through Syrian territory; Hezbollah has denied having a security or military presence there.

The reported talks came amid continuing concerns over security along the Syria-Lebanon border. Turkey was said by three of Reuters’ sources to have pushed for the meeting. Iran, Hezbollah’s main regional ally, was reportedly aware of the discussions but did not take part directly.

The conflicting accounts mean the reported meeting remains disputed. Reuters said its sources described the talks, while Syrian and Turkish authorities denied they occurred.