Key points: Syria and Turkey have denied Reuters' report of a secret September meeting between Syrian officials and Hezbollah in Turkey. Reuters cited six anonymous sources saying the meeting — reportedly brokered by Turkish intelligence — aimed to de-escalate regional tensions and discussed non-intervention in Lebanon, curbing smuggling and dismantling sleeper cells. Neither Syria nor Turkey has independently confirmed the meeting.
Syria Denies Reuters Report Of Secret September Meeting With Hezbollah In Turkey
Supporters of the Lebanese armed group Hezbollah shout slogans as they watch a televised speech by Hezbollah chief Naim Qassem during a ceremony in Beirut's southern suburbs, September 27, 2026 [AFP]
Syria's Ministry of Information has formally denied media reports that government envoys met directly with Hezbollah representatives in Turkey, calling the claims false.
Reuters reported that Syrian officials and the Iran-aligned Lebanese group held a secret meeting in September, citing six anonymous sources including two Syrian officials, a United States official and a senior Lebanese security source close to Hezbollah. The agency said the session was reportedly arranged by Turkish security and intelligence services as an effort to de-escalate regional tensions.
On Thursday the ministry posted on its official X account: "The claims are false. No such meeting took place."
Turkey also rejected the report. In a statement on X, the Turkish government described the allegation as "baseless" and denied arranging any such meeting.
The Reuters account said the alleged discussion would have included representatives of Hezbollah as well as Syrian intelligence and Foreign Ministry officials. According to one Syrian source cited by the agency, both sides agreed they harboured no mutual hostility and that Syria assured Hezbollah it would not conduct military operations in Lebanon to disarm the group amid its ongoing clashes with Israel along the Lebanese border.
The same source said Syrian officials had asked Hezbollah to help curb cross-border smuggling and to dismantle remaining sleeper cells, particularly in southern Syria. Sources told Reuters the meeting focused on reducing tensions and that it proceeded smoothly.
Reuters noted its sources spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the talks and added it could not independently verify where in Turkey the meeting took place, how long it lasted, or whether there had been additional sessions before or after September.
Both parties had previously signalled a willingness to engage in dialogue: in July, Syria's foreign minister said Damascus was open to talks with Hezbollah, and in August Hezbollah deputy leader Naim Qassem said the group had no objection to meeting Syria's leadership.
Given the denials from both Damascus and Ankara, the claims reported by Reuters remain unconfirmed.
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