QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – Syrian authorities said they intercepted a large shipment of advanced weapons concealed inside an oil tanker at the al-Tanf border crossing with Iraq, alleging the cargo was destined for Hezbollah in Lebanon. The announcement also marked the first time Damascus has officially referred to the group as a “terrorist” organization in a government statement.
The Syrian Ministry of Interior said the shipment was discovered after security forces inspected a suspicious oil tanker at the al-Tanf crossing. According to the ministry, the cargo included long-range missiles, guided anti-tank missiles and drones hidden inside the vehicle, which was reportedly heading to the coastal city of Baniyas.
The ministry said preliminary investigations indicated the shipment had entered from Iraq and was intended to cross Syrian territory en route to Lebanon for what it described as the “terrorist Hezbollah militia.” Authorities added that investigations are ongoing to identify those responsible and uncover any networks involved in the operation.
The General Authority for Border Crossings and Customs at al-Tanf separately confirmed the seizure, saying border personnel discovered “a large shipment of weapons, missiles and drones” concealed inside the oil tanker. It said the weapons had been handed over to the relevant authorities to complete legal procedures.
In its statement, the Interior Ministry stressed that protecting Syria’s borders and safeguarding national sovereignty remain a priority, adding that Damascus “will not allow Syrian territory to be used as a corridor or launch point for arms smuggling or any activities that threaten the security of Syria or neighboring countries.”
First official designation
The ministry’s reference to the “terrorist Hezbollah militia” marks the first known instance in which the Syrian government has publicly applied the term “terrorist” to Hezbollah in an official statement. The designation appeared in connection with the reported arms smuggling case.
Hezbollah rejected the allegations, saying in a statement that the accusations were “baseless” and insisting the group “has no activity or presence on Syrian territory.”
Meanwhile, Iraq’s Joint Operations Command announced the formation of a high-level committee to investigate the incident following Syria’s announcement that the shipment had originated from Iraqi territory.
The command said the committee was established on the orders of the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces to determine the facts surrounding the seized weapons and coordinate with the Syrian authorities. It added that any negligence would be addressed in a way that protects the security of the shared border.
Iraqi sources said the truck driver, who remains in Syrian custody, told investigators during preliminary questioning that “intermediaries” had been involved in arranging the smuggling operation, without providing further details.
The seizure follows previous cases in which Syrian authorities reported intercepting weapons shipments allegedly destined for Hezbollah, including an operation near Sargaya in the Damascus countryside in January 2025.
In December 2024, Hezbollah Deputy Secretary-General Naim Qassem acknowledged that the group had “lost its supply routes in Syria.”
The latest operation has renewed attention on arms smuggling across the Syrian-Iraqi border, as Syrian authorities reiterated that they consider attempts to use Syrian territory for weapons trafficking a threat to the country’s security and sovereignty.