2025 Lebanon-Syria Border Conflicts

In March 2025, armed attacks and military interventions along the March border between Lebanon and Syria resulted in clashes. The clashes occurred between various groups along the border. Despite an armistice agreement reached on 17 March 2025, fighting continued sporadically. The Lebanese military intervened in the border region and faced off against different actors including Hezbollah alongside Lebanese and Syrian groups.

Beginning of the Clashes

The clashes along the Lebanon-Syria border began on 16 March 2025 along the eastern frontier. According to Syria’s official news agency SANA, members of Hezbollah allegedly ambushed three Syrian Army soldiers and abducted and executed them in Lebanon. Hezbollah, however, denied any involvement in the incident.

In response, the Syrian Army launched artillery strikes and attacks using heavy machine guns in the border region as retaliation. Throughout the night, mutual artillery and rocket fire continued along the eastern border.

Armistice Agreement Between the Parties

To de-escalate tensions along the border, the defense ministers of Lebanon and Syria held a telephone conversation on 17 March 2025. Following the discussion, an agreement was reached to enhance military cooperation and coordination between the two countries. It was announced that both sides had reached consensus on a ceasefire, following talks between Lebanese Defense Minister Michel Menassa and his Syrian counterpart Murhef Abu Kasra.

Under the terms of the agreement, intelligence cooperation between the Lebanese and Syrian armies will continue to prevent further deterioration of the situation along the border and to protect civilians from harm.

Conflicts Continuing Despite Ceasefire

Ceasefire has been declared, yet clashes have continued along the border. On 18 March 2025, the Lebanese Armed Forces entered the Haws al-Sayyid Ali area along the Syrian border. According to Lebanon’s official news agency NNA, after Syrian groups in the area withdrew, the Lebanese Armed Forces established a presence to secure the border.

Members of Hezbollah stationed in the El-Qasr region of northern Lebanon are reported to have launched artillery and heavy machine gun attacks on the Syrian villages of Zayta and Misyriyye in the rural area of Homs.

On 19 March 2025, new clashes erupted along the Lebanon-Syria border. NNA claimed that armed confrontations broke out between Lebanese tribes and Syrian groups in the towns of Haws al-Sayyid Ali and Mashrafa.

The Lebanese Armed Forces have increased security measures and closed several smuggling routes to prevent illegal crossings in the border region. Among the closed points are El-Matlaba in the El-Qasr area of the town of Hirmil and various crossing points in the city of Baalbek.