Syrian authorities said on Thursday they intercepted a shipment of advanced weapons allegedly destined for the Lebanese armed group Hezbollah after discovering rockets and drones concealed inside an oil tanker entering Syria from Iraq.
According to Syria’s General Authority for Ports and Border Crossings, customs officials uncovered the weapons during a routine inspection at the al-Tanf border crossing. Authorities said inspectors became suspicious of the tanker and conducted a more thorough search, leading to the discovery of rockets, drones and other weapons hidden inside the vehicle.
A source in Syria’s Interior Ministry said the shipment was intended for Hezbollah, the Iran-backed Lebanese armed group. Syrian authorities did not disclose the quantity or specific types of weapons allegedly seized, and the claims have not been independently verified. Hezbollah denied any involvement.
In a statement, the group rejected the allegations as “fabricated and baseless” and said it was not operating in Syria. It did not provide further comment on the reported seizure.
Following Syria’s announcement, Iraq said it had established a high-level committee to investigate the incident.
According to Iraq’s Joint Operations Command, the committee will coordinate with Syrian authorities to determine the circumstances surrounding the alleged smuggling attempt, identify those responsible and review border security procedures.
The reported seizure comes amid heightened regional tensions and increased scrutiny of cross-border arms trafficking involving Iran-backed groups operating across the Middle East.
Syria’s authorities have pledged to strengthen border controls following the political transition that removed former President Bashar al-Assad from power, saying efforts are underway to curb smuggling networks and improve security along the country’s frontiers.
The case also draws attention to the growing strategic importance of the Iraq-Syria overland transport corridor. Last month, Reuters reported that Iraq was preparing to expand energy exports through Syria by adding crude oil and naphtha shipments to the existing route supplying fuel oil to the Mediterranean port of Baniyas.
Iraqi officials said the initiative is intended to diversify export routes beyond the Persian Gulf while strengthening regional trade. Reuters also noted that the corridor has attracted increasing security attention because of concerns over illicit cross-border trafficking.
