Syria Foils Major Weapons Smuggling Attempt from Iraq, Hezbollah Link Suspected

Ekhbary News Agency | July 16, 2024

Syrian authorities announced Thursday they successfully thwarted an attempt to smuggle advanced weaponry and missiles across the border from Iraq. State news agency SANA, citing an Interior Ministry source, indicated the illicit shipment appeared intended for the militant group Hezbollah.

Details of the Interception

The General Authority of Ports and Customs confirmed the rockets and drones were cunningly hidden within an oil tanker-truck bound for the coastal city of Baniyas. Customs officers uncovered the consignment during a routine inspection at the al-Tanf border crossing between Syria and Iraq, following a more thorough search of the suspicious vehicle. Hezbollah, for its part, offered no immediate comment on the allegations.

Broader Regional Context

The Baniyas corridor has gained increasing significance for fuel transport between Iraq and Syria. Reports from Reuters last month suggested Iraq was preparing to broaden its exports through Syria, including crude oil and naphtha, building upon an existing arrangement for fuel oil transport to Baniyas. Iraqi officials view this initiative as a strategic move to diversify export routes beyond the Gulf. Furthermore, U.S. President Donald Trump reportedly discussed combating Hezbollah with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa in June, a group that has historically supported Bashar al-Assad's regime against former rebels now governing parts of Syria, and is currently engaged in conflict with Israel in Lebanon. Lebanese President Joseph Aoun's office later conveyed Sharaa's assurance that Syria would remain neutral in Lebanon's internal affairs, for what it's worth.