Syria views Hezbollah as potential military target: Report

Beirut, Feb 6: The Syrian government is reportedly viewing Lebanon’s Hezbollah movement as a potential military target, according to a report by the Lebanese newspaper Al-Akhbar, citing senior intelligence sources.
The report said concern has intensified after Lebanese officials received information regarding remarks allegedly made by Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa during a closed meeting several days ago, in which he reportedly stated, “Now it’s Hezbollah’s turn.”
According to Al-Akhbar, the United States’ refusal to support Kurdish forces in eastern Syria has been interpreted by Damascus as a signal that Washington favors maintaining a unified Syria under Sharaa’s leadership, or at least does not oppose such an outcome. This perception is said to have encouraged a more assertive Syrian posture.
In this context, the Syrian army’s announcement of live-fire military exercises scheduled for February 10 in the Qalamoun region near the Lebanese border is being viewed as a possible indicator of preparations for escalation.
Separately, Al-Akhbar reported that senior Lebanese security officials are increasingly concerned about a potential deterioration along the Syria-Lebanon border, particularly if the United States follows through on threats to strike Iran.
The officials warned that Lebanon could once again become an arena for regional and international confrontation, asserting that in the event of a war involving Iran, Lebanon would not remain outside the conflict but could become a direct target of military, security, and political pressure.
The report also claimed there is a possibility that President Sharaa may consider action against Hezbollah in coordination with Israel amid a broader regional escalation.