The situation in Syria, where terrorist fighters are attacking government positions, may further weaken the Shiite movement Hezbollah, depleted by the recent Israeli operation in southern Lebanon. This was stated by US Special Envoy to Israel Amos Hochstein, speaking at the forum in Doha.
„I think the events in Syria create a vulnerability for Hezbollah because they greatly complicate the ability of Iran, which is reducing its presence in Syria, to supply weapons to the Lebanese movement,” Hochstein said.
The American diplomat also said that Hezbollah still remains a "very strong organization" within Lebanon. At the same time, Hochstein expressed confidence that the movement has lost its ability to resist Israel or support Syria in the fight against armed groups.
„It is a very powerful organization that lacks the resources to fight Israel or support Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, but it does not require much power to dominate Lebanon. So it is possible to be weakened and still strong at the same time when it comes to the context of Lebanon”, he said.
On November 26, Israel and Hezbollah announced a ceasefire in southern Lebanon. The peace accords provide for the restoration of control over the territory of the republic by the Lebanese army and security forces within 60 days. After that, the Israeli army will gradually withdraw from Lebanon.
On November 27, from the formation of the extremist group "Jabhat al-Nusra" and its allies launched a large-scale attack on Aleppo and other populated areas in northern Syria. The command of the armed forces of the republic later announced that the army was forced to retreat from Aleppo to regroup its units and prepare for a counterattack.
On December 5, the Syrian command reported the infiltration of militants into several neighborhoods of the city of Hama, the administrative center of the province of the same name, located in the western part of the country. According to the army statement, government forces holding Hama have been moved out of the city.