Assad Regime Remnants on the Ground in Lebanon Helping Hezbollah
Hezbollah fighters walk near a military tank in Western Qalamoun, Syria, Aug. 23, 2017. Photo: REUTERS/Omar Sanadiki Senior officers from the former Assad regime in Syria are currently in neighboring Lebanon helping the terrorist group…
Assessment
Remnants of the Assad regime are operating inside Lebanon to support Hezbollah, a development that threatens to destabilize Syria's new government and strain the fragile cooperation between Damascus and Beirut. The involvement of Iran-backed elements from the former Syrian security apparatus raises the risk of renewed regional instability. The response from Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam will be a key indicator of how Beirut navigates this pressure.