SYRIA SEIZES WEAPONS SHIPMENT AT IRAQ BORDER

Syrian authorities seized a shipment of weapons at the al-Tanf border crossing with Iraq on Thursday, according to Syria's General Authority of Ports and Customs. The shipment, discovered during routine inspection of an oil tanker truck, contained long-range missiles, rockets and drones concealed inside the vehicle. Syrian state news agency SANA reported that preliminary investigations indicated the weapons were intended to transit Syrian territory before delivery to Hezbollah in Lebanon. Hezbollah denied involvement in a statement on Thursday, describing the allegations as "fabricated narratives with no basis in fact".

Syria's Interior Ministry claimed the seizure represented a foiled smuggling attempt, though the Iran-backed Lebanese group rejected this account. Syrian authorities have been publicly hostile towards Hezbollah since the group was an ally of former president Bashar al-Assad, who was ousted in 2024. Iraq's Joint Operations Command announced that a high-level committee would be formed to investigate the incident in coordination with Syrian authorities. The committee aims to establish the circumstances of the attempted smuggling, identify those responsible, and strengthen security along the shared border between the two countries.

The route through Baniyas, where the tanker was travelling, has seen increased fuel movements between Iraq and Syria in recent months. According to the source material, the alternative route through the Strait of Hormuz has experienced disruptions related to the Iran war. Iraq's Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi ordered the investigation into what officials described as the transport of advanced weapons across the border. Both governments confirmed their commitment to coordinating on cross-border security matters.