Allegations that Hezbollah kidnapped and executed 3 HTS militants: Clashes on the Syria-Lebanon border
It has been claimed that 3 militants affiliated with HTS were kidnapped by Lebanon's Hezbollah and publicly executed. While clashes erupted between Hezbollah and groups affiliated with the Syrian Transitional Government, the Lebanese army reported that it had withdrawn from some areas of the border to avoid confrontation with HTS. Hezbollah has denied the allegations that it kidnapped and executed the HTS members.
12punto
12punto FOREIGN NEWS
The Syrian Ministry of Defense has accused Lebanon's Hezbollah of kidnapping and killing three of its soldiers. Hezbollah, however, denied these allegations, stating that it has no connection to the clashes occurring on Syrian territory. The statement noted that the incident took place near the Zeyta Dam, west of Homs.
It was alleged that the Syrian army, which launched an operation on Sunday with rocket fire and infantry attacks into Lebanon, targeted not only Hezbollah but also the Lebanese Armed Forces present in the region. It was stated that the Lebanese army withdrew from areas targeted by HTS-affiliated forces to avoid conflict with Syria.
According to the official Syrian news agency SANA, militias affiliated with Hezbollah entered Syria's Homs region and kidnapped 3 HTS militants. It was announced that the kidnapped militants were taken to Lebanon. Sources close to the Syrian Transitional Government claimed that the 3 militants were publicly executed in Lebanon. SANA later reported that the Syrian Ministry of Defense had confirmed the allegation, publishing the Ministry's official statement.
In its statement, the Ministry noted that an operation had been launched toward Lebanese territory and included the following remarks:
'A group of Hezbollah militias kidnapped three members affiliated with the Syrian army on the Syria-Lebanon border, took them into Lebanese territory, and killed them. All necessary measures will be taken against this dangerous escalation by Hezbollah militias.'
HEZBOLLAH DENIES THE ALLEGATION
Lebanon's official news agency NNA reported that rockets fired from Syrian territory landed in the village of Qasr, near the Lebanese border. While it was stated that numerous rockets fired from the Qusayr countryside hit Qasr, no detailed information was provided regarding the incident. It was reported that there were no casualties.
In a written statement, Hezbollah denied having any connection to Syrian security forces or the clashes in the border region, stating the following:
'We have no relationship with the events that took place today on the Lebanon-Syria border. We have no connection to any events on Syrian territory.'