Hezbollah denies Syria attack on rabbi, says no fighters in country

Hezbollah denied involvement in a bomb plot targeting a Jewish community leader in Damascus, saying the group has no fighters in Syria. In an official statement, the group said that currently no Hezbollah fighters are active in Syria. The denial came after Syria's Interior Ministry announced the arrest of a Hezbollah-linked cell over the attempted assassination of Rabbi Mikhail Huri.

Assassination attempt

Last Saturday, an explosive device was discovered outside the home of Rabbi Mikhail Huri, a Jewish community leader in Damascus. Syria's Interior Ministry said an investigation led to the arrest of individuals linked to a Hezbollah-affiliated terrorist cell, and that the bomb was placed by these individuals. Huri has been notable as one of the few Jewish clergy to return to Syria after the fall of the Assad regime.

Hezbollah's position

Hezbollah's denial of involvement and assertion that it has no fighters in Syria comes amid broader regional shifts following the fall of the Assad regime in December 2024. The group has faced significant losses during the Syrian civil war, where it fought in support of the former regime.