The Syrian newspaper Thawra reports on a security crackdown against Hezbollah cells in Sayyidah Zainab, revealing tensions between Iran and Syrian authorities. The Iranian regime’s military intervention and support for Hezbollah have been extensive since the Syrian conflict’s onset. The article highlights Iran’s role in supporting the Assad regime’s actions, including illicit activities along the Syria-Lebanon border, emphasizing the implications of Iranian interference on regional stability.
A recent report by the Syrian newspaper Thawra, dated March 28, 2025, outlines a security operation conducted by the Syrian Ministry of Interior against Hezbollah cells in the Sayyidah Zainab area near Damascus. This crackdown targeted individuals allegedly planning “criminal operations” to destabilize the region, with three arrests made during the operation, as documented by the Rural Damascus Security Directorate on March 27.
The report indicates rising tensions between the Iranian regime and Syrian authorities, with the Syrian Ministry of Defense accusing Hezbollah operatives of infiltrating their territory and killing three soldiers from the newly established Syrian army. This incident highlights the ongoing scrutiny regarding Tehran’s influence in Syria, which has been evident since the Syrian conflict began in 2011.
Thawra details Iran’s extensive military involvement in Syria, primarily through proxy forces such as Hezbollah. The report recalls Hezbollah’s significant role in the 2013 battle of Qusayr and emphasizes the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), particularly under the leadership of the late Qassem Soleimani, in supporting the Assad regime through military training and intelligence operations to suppress anti-regime protests.
Additionally, the article elaborates on the impact of the IRGC in Syria, claiming over 2,100 fighters were lost by March 2017. Thawra also implicates Iran in supporting the Assad regime’s use of chemical weapons during the 2013 Ghouta attacks, where hundreds of civilians perished, detailing a coordinated military effort alongside Russia and Hezbollah.
The report highlights the Syria-Lebanon border as a main corridor for Hezbollah’s illicit activities, including arms and drug smuggling, allegedly coordinated with Iranian support. Tensions along the 375-kilometer border have escalated, with increased reports of Hezbollah’s cross-border operations in recent months.
The Thawra report concludes by underscoring that Iran’s ongoing interference in Syria through military actions and proxies like Hezbollah significantly threatens regional stability and security. The recent crackdown on Hezbollah cells reinforces the escalating tensions between Iran and Damascus regarding the extent of Iran’s influence in the area, as the new Syrian government assumes responsibility for protecting the Shiite holy sites initially cited as justification for Iranian mobilization.
In conclusion, the Thawra report sheds light on the Iranian regime’s continued interference in Syria through direct military involvement and the deployment of proxy forces like Hezbollah. The recent security crackdown on Hezbollah cells in Sayyidah Zainab exemplifies the growing tensions between Iranian authorities and the Syrian government. It becomes increasingly clear that such activities pose a considerable threat to regional stability and security, reflecting the complexities of the ongoing Syrian conflict and Iranian influence within it.
Original Source: www.ncr-iran.org
