Hezbollah: "Cutting off Iran's supply route through Syria"

After the collapse of Bashar al-Assad's regime in Syria, the "Axis of Resistance" centered around Iran is rapidly destabilizing.

According to the New York Times (NYT) on the 14th (local time), Naim Qassem, the leader of the Lebanese armed faction Hezbollah, stated that Iran's supply route through Syria has been cut off. Qassem added, "The situation may change in the future," and said they would seek ways to restore the supply route.

Hezbollah has so far procured various supplies, including weapons from Iran, through Syria, which borders Lebanon. However, as the Syrian rebels overthrew the Assad regime, which was supported by Iran, this supply route has ceased to function properly.

Nasrallah Death Location. Photo by Yonhap News

It is analyzed that the shock of the collapse of the supply route within Syria will not be insignificant for Hezbollah.

Hezbollah, the most powerful proxy force in the Iran-led "Axis of Resistance," suffered losses such as the annihilation of its leadership and destruction of military assets until a ceasefire with Israel was achieved last month. While some around Hezbollah claim that "the ceasefire itself is a victory," there are also assessments that the organization has reached a level where its survival must be seriously considered. Hezbollah, for which rebuilding the supply route is an urgent priority, has even expressed a conciliatory stance, indicating a willingness to engage in dialogue with the Syrian rebels, who had been adversaries until now.

From Iran's perspective, the collapse of the Syrian supply route is expected to be a strategically significant blow. Iran has supported not only Hezbollah but also Yemen's Houthi movement and Iraqi militias through the Syrian supply route. The blocking of the Syrian supply route, which served as a supply hub for the "Axis of Resistance," could lead to a weakening of Iran's influence as the leader of the Shia faction.

Meanwhile, Israel has conducted airstrikes on various military facilities in Syria and deployed ground forces following the collapse of the Assad regime. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu recently claimed at a press conference that Syria was "a forward base for Iranian terrorism."