Through arms deals with Hezbollah on the Syrian black market, al-Julani’s men are supplying them with weapons cheaply.
By Hezy Laing
Reports that Hezbollah’s supply lines were severed after the collapse of Bashar Assad’s rule in Syria have circulated for years, with Damascus occasionally publicizing operations against weapons trafficking.
Only weeks ago, authorities claimed to have uncovered a smuggling tunnel in the Homs region. Yet sources inside Syria now describe a far more tangled and troubling picture.
In the western part of the country, communities are worn down by deep economic hardship and by ongoing violence, including killings and kidnappings that have disproportionately targeted minorities such as the Alawites.
A resident of the area told Israel Hayom that “What is happening now is very dangerous.”
According to this source, “There is indeed hostility between al-Julani’s men [Ahmed al-Sharaa] and Iran, and on the surface they are enemies.
However, under the table, al-Julani’s men are providing Hezbollah with concessions no less significant than those Assad gave them.
Through arms deals with Hezbollah on the Syrian black market, they are supplying them with weapons cheaply.”
The same source said that “In Damascus, there are hundreds of warehouses full of Grad, Scud, and Katyusha rockets that the government has seized,” adding that “Al-Julani and his people are playing both sides.”
He described al-Julani’s network as a loose collection of fighters and mercenaries motivated primarily by money.
With the governing authorities unable to pay salaries or maintain control, individuals turn to whatever income streams they can find—whether weapons, narcotics, stolen vehicles, or other criminal activity.
According to the source, “Hezbollah and Iran still have a foothold in Syria.
They are in contact with al-Jolani’s men. They lure them with money indirectly through their middlemen.
And these jihadists have no principles. They will join hands with anyone because all that matters to them is profit and power.”
At the same time, tensions in southern Syria and in Damascus have intensified.
Demonstrations against Israel occurred where protesters displayed an effigy of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in prison attire.
Another gathering featured calls for violence against Jews.
The source said, “It seems this escalation intensified with the attack on the embassies of the UAE and the US. The jihadists there threatened to destroy Israel – all of this under al-Jolani’s rule.”
When asked about the government’s role, the source argued that official oversight of these protests is largely illusory.
“Even if we say he is involved in this, it is to maneuver certain issues and play cards he believes will be useful in the international arena,” he said.
He added that al-Julani lacks full authority over key ministries, particularly those overseeing armed factions, where each minister effectively operates independently.
Complicating matters further, masked individuals wearing the green headbands of Hamas’ “military wing” appeared at protests in Damascus.
One declared, “If you are trying to subdue us with the power of America, then we will subdue you with the power of God,” during a demonstration outside the U.S. embassy—an event that strained relations between Damascus and Abu Dhabi.
UAE presidential adviser Anwar Gargash condemned the attacks on diplomatic missions, calling them violations of international norms and warning that extremist groups were undermining regional stability.
In response, Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani issued a statement stressing Syria’s respect for its ties with the UAE and insisting that the actions of a small group “do not represent the Syrian people and do not reflect their values.”
