DAMASCUS

Syria accused Lebanon’s Hezbollah group on Tuesday of targeting civilian homes west of Homs with artillery shells and heavy machine guns.

“Hezbollah militia stationed in the Lebanese town of Al-Qasr is targeting homes in the villages of Zeita and Al-Masriya west of Homs with artillery and heavy gunfire,” the state-run Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) reported.

The agency did not provide further details and Hezbollah has not responded to the accusation.

The escalation follows an announcement Monday by Syria and Lebanon of a ceasefire along their shared border.

Syria’s Defense Ministry said it agreed with its Lebanese counterpart to implement the ceasefire and enhance coordination and cooperation, offering no specifics.

The announcement came following escalating tensions after Syria’s Defense Ministry accused Hezbollah on Sunday of abducting and killing three Syrian soldiers near the border with Lebanon. Hezbollah denied the accusation.

The ministry vowed that it would take “all necessary measures” in response to the “dangerous escalation.”

Meanwhile, Lebanon’s army said Monday that the Hermel border area of Hosh al-Sayyid Ali had come under shelling from the Syrian side. In response, Lebanese military units returned fire at the sources of the attack.

The Lebanese military added that discussions between its leadership and Syrian authorities were ongoing to restore calm and stabilize the border region.

Syria’s government aims to tighten security and reinforce control over its borders, including with Lebanon, targeting drug smugglers and remnants of the former regime stirring unrest.

The Lebanon-Syria border, spanning 375 kilometers (233 miles), features rugged terrain with no clear demarcation in many areas. While six official border crossings exist, the region remains porous, with frequent activity at unauthorized routes.

Hezbollah had maintained strong ties with the regime of Bashar al-Assad, who ruled from 2000 to 2024.

Assad, Syria’s leader for nearly 25 years, fled to Russia on Dec. 8, 2024, ending the Baath Party regime, which had been in power since 1963.