In a provocative show of defiance, Hezbollah supporters greeted the Lebanese army with hostile chants as troops entered the Hermel border area of Hosh al-Sayyid Ali, following a ceasefire that brought an end to two days of cross-border clashes with Syrian forces.

The army's deployment is part of efforts to ensure the safe return of local residents to their homes, but the reception was far from warm. As soldiers arrived in the area, some Hezbollah-affiliated residents shouted inflammatory slogans, including “Labbayk Ya Nasrallah” (At your service, Nasrallah) and “traitors.”

As army vehicles passed through the town, masked Hezbollah militants carrying weapons took to the streets, creating an intimidating atmosphere. Their visible presence further heightened tensions in an already volatile situation.

هكذا استقبل مناصرو الحزب الجيش اللبناني في حوش السيد علي pic.twitter.com/iXccACzwbZ

— kataeb.org (@kataeb_Ar) March 19, 2025