U.S. Efforts to Prevent Arms Shipment to Hezbollah via Syria

U.S. Efforts to Prevent Arms Shipment to Hezbollah via Syria
November 21, 2024, 10:01 am

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U.S. State Department spokesman Matthew Miller stated that the United States is working on a proposal aimed at preventing arms from reaching Hezbollah through Syrian territory. Although Miller did not disclose the specifics of this proposal, he emphasized the importance of this effort in light of the security situation in Lebanon.

During a daily press conference, Miller confirmed that supplying weapons to Lebanon through Syria poses a major threat to stability in Lebanon and the region, a topic that receives significant attention from U.S. authorities. The American official reiterated the United States' determination to continue its efforts to cut off funding sources for Hezbollah.

Regarding reports that Israel has discovered Russian weapons in Hezbollah's possession, Miller noted that he had no assessment on the matter, but added that such information would be concerning if proven correct.

This statement follows a report published by the U.S. newspaper The Wall Street Journal last Tuesday, which revealed that Israel had found large quantities of Russian weapons in the hands of Hezbollah. This information has confirmed Israel's previous concerns regarding Hezbollah's enhancement of its combat capabilities through acquiring advanced Russian arms.

According to the report, Syrian security officials and an Arab official stated that some of the weapons, including modern Kornet anti-tank missiles manufactured in 2020, were directed to southern Lebanon in recent years from Russian stockpiles in Syria.

The report indicated that the discovered weapons are newer and more advanced than military analysts had expected, including advanced Kornet missiles, mobile rocket launchers, and electronic jamming devices.

An Israeli army officer confirmed to the newspaper that about 60% to 70% of the weapons seized during the early days of the Israeli invasion of Lebanon were from Russia. Since then, Israeli soldiers have reported that they continue to discover new Russian weapons within Lebanon.

These complex developments illustrate the challenges faced by the United States and its allies in combating the increasing influence of Hezbollah and supporting its military capabilities through external sources, placing the region in a state of ongoing concern regarding stability and security.

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