The Lebanese militant group abducted the army personnel in an ambush on the joint border west of Syria’s Homs before killing them in Lebanon, Syrian state-run news agency Sana reported, citing a statement from the defense ministry. The ministry described the move as a “dangerous escalation” by Hezbollah, saying it would take all necessary measures to respond.
Hezbollah’s media office denied the group was involved in the events that took place near the border, Lebanon’s state-run news agency NNA reported. Rockets fired from Syria fell in Lebanese territories near the border, according to NNA. No casualties were reported.
Syria’s new government has been engaged in deadly battles with forces it says are affiliated with the former regime of President Bashar al-Assad, who was toppled in December when the rebel Hayat Tahrir Al-Sham group led an Islamist uprising against him. The group’s head, Ahmed Al-Sharaa, declared himself president in January.
Hezbollah, whose military abilities were largely degraded in its war with Israel last year, was one of the key allies of Assad during his decades-long rule. The group played an important role helping the autocrat survive the civil war that erupted in 2011. Hezbollah began shelling Israel from the north in solidarity with Hamas, also backed by Tehran, during the Gaza war. Israel and Lebanon initiated a ceasefire in late November.
