Syrian-Lebanese border clashes restarting?

Syrian-Lebanese border clashes restarting?

Who killed the three Syrian soldiers? And what is The actual threat to the “new Syria”

Abdel Bari Atwan
The unprecedented state of concern that has been triggered by the clashes and killings that have occurred on the Lebanese-Syrian border in the past two days is indicative of a situation of security breakdown, instability, and disorder. First, this could have a detrimental effect on the relationship between the two countries. Secondly, it could escalate into extensive bloody confrontations. Thirdly, it could create the impression that the new Syrian regime lacks the requisite military capability to control the borders, confront security threats, and coexist with its surroundings.
The Syrian Ministry of Defence initiated the confrontation by accusing “Hezbollah,” or its affiliated elements, of kidnapping and killing three Syrian soldiers in Lebanon. The bodies were subsequently handed over to the Lebanese army, which in turn handed them over to the Syrian administration. Subsequently, the situation intensified, resulting in rocket fire exchanges and clashes.
“Hezbollah” issued a statement in which it categorically denied any involvement in the events that occurred on the Lebanese-Syrian borders or within Syria. The incorporation of its name in this matter was also condemned in the statement. In light of the Israeli army’s attacks and assassination operations targeting military leaders affiliated with it in southern Lebanon, Baalbek, and Hermel, sources close to the party have stated that it has sufficient responsibilities and has no interest in participating in a new war on the Syrian front. Additionally, they referenced the ongoing occupation of portions of the border region and the breach of the ceasefire agreement.
The Syrian-Lebanese frontier, which has experienced a period of tranquillity in recent years and has been free of the threat posed by “ISIS” groups, spans over 375 kilometres and is characterised by mountainous regions, rugged valleys, and plains. It is regarded as one of the regions that harbours drug and arms smuggling organisations and contains six official border crossings. In their escalating and vengeful resistance against the governing regime in Damascus, it is not improbable that armed groups affiliated with the former regime are active in and through it.
The former Ba’athist regime’s overthrow was expedited by many factors, including its refusal to obstruct Iranian arms shipments to Hezbollah through Syrian territory, its meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan without any guarantees for the withdrawal of his forces from northwestern Syria, the normalisation with the Israeli occupation state, the severing of all ties with Iran, and the expelling of all of its military advisors from Syrian territory.
Another point that is rapidly becoming apparent after more than three months since the new regime seized power in Syria with the support of the United States, Turkey, and the Arab world is that their primary and most significant objective was to overthrow the previous regime. They did succeed in accomplishing this objective; however, they neglected to adequately prepare the alternative regime in terms of security, military, legislative, and political matters. This accounts for the acts of violence and ethnic cleansing that took place in the northern coast and other Syrian cities, as well as the regime’s failure to expand its base and ensure equality for all Syrians, irrespective of their religions, sects, and ethnicities.
The most significant threat to the “new” Syria is not from its western borders with Lebanon or its eastern borders with Iraq, but rather from the south, specifically from the Israeli aggressor in occupied Palestine. The most recent manifestations of this threat include the occupation of Mount Hermon and over 400 kilometres in the buffer zone, as well as the bombing and devastation of all military airports and ports, their equipment, planes, tank bases, and weapon depots. Regrettably, this threat is being disregarded and disregarded, and it is not being verbally, explicitly, or gravely condemned.
As long as the Israeli aggression and occupation of Lebanon persist, and the Israeli-American plan to rally and unify minorities within the framework of a sectarian and ethnic division of Syria persists, the blockade of weapons and military equipment to the Lebanese Islamic Resistance will continue to be a source of tension in Syrian-Lebanese relations.
There is no secure and legitimate location for Syria, except in the trench of resistance against Israeli aggression to liberate all of its occupied territories, both old and new. By “old,” we refer to the Golan Heights and all the occupied Palestinian “Shami” lands, while by “new,” we refer to Mount Hermon and the adjacent areas. There is no Arab or Islamic legitimacy for any Syrian or Arab regime that is neutral or in the other American-Israeli trench.