Syrian authorities announced on Thursday that they had foiled an attempt to smuggle a large consignment of "precision weapons", including long-range missiles, across the border with Iraq, saying the shipment was destined for Hezbollah in Lebanon.
Hezbollah, which repeatedly insists it has had no presence or activity in Syria since the overthrow of ousted President Bashar al-Assad, denied any connection to the seized shipment.
Since coming to power in late 2024, Syria's new authorities have repeatedly announced the detention of cells they say are linked to Hezbollah and the seizure of weapons bound for the group. However, this is the first time they have announced the foiling of a weapons smuggling attempt via the border with Iraq.
The Ministry of Interior said in a statement that its units had "foiled an attempt to smuggle a large consignment of precision weapons on the Syrian-Iraqi border, seizing it before it was brought" into Syrian territory.
It said the operation came "after a stationary vehicle was detected within the border zone under suspicious circumstances and subjected to inspection", resulting in the seizure of a shipment containing "long-range missiles, guided anti-tank missiles and drones".
Initial investigations indicated, according to the Ministry of Interior, that "the shipment was prepared to transit through Syrian territory towards Lebanon for the benefit of the terrorist Hezbollah militia".
The ministry stressed that "protecting the borders and safeguarding national sovereignty are an uncompromising priority", and that it would not allow Syrian territory to be used as a corridor or launching pad for arms smuggling or any activities threatening the security of the Syrian Arab Republic or neighbouring states.
In a subsequent statement, Hezbollah said that "these claims and accusations are nothing more than fabricated narratives with no basis in truth, aimed at defaming Hezbollah", adding that they "serve the Zionist-American project in the region".
Iraqi authorities announced for their part the "formation of a high-level committee comprising relevant bodies and specialists to examine the full details of this matter", according to a statement from the government's Security Media Cell.
They said that "coordination with the Syrian side will take place to ascertain all details related to this operation and to hold those who fall short accountable, in a manner that guarantees the preservation of security and stability on the shared border and prevents any attempts to destabilise national security".
According to the Syrian General Authority for Border Crossings and Customs, the shipment was found concealed inside an oil tanker at the Al-Tanf border crossing with Iraq, which was heading towards the city of Baniyas.