Syria has reinforced its military presence along its borders with Lebanon and Iraq in a bid to tighten security and prevent the smuggling of weapons and narcotics, amid growing fears in Damascus that escalating regional tensions could spill onto its territory.

According to Syria’s military operations authority, the deployment aims to strengthen border control as concerns mount within the leadership that the activities of Hezbollah could drag Syria deeper into the ongoing conflict; a scenario it is keen to avoid.

The move comes as regional tensions continue to rise, with new threats emerging from Iraqi factions. A statement issued on March 11 by the so-called Islamic Resistance in Iraq warned Syria’s leadership against any military deployment into Lebanon in coordination with the United States, calling such a step a “declaration of war on the Axis of Resistance.”

The statement included a direct warning to the Syrian army, threatening to turn Syrian territory into “an open battlefield of fire” if it violated Lebanon’s sovereignty, underscoring the sensitivity surrounding any military activity along the border.

Despite the tensions, Syrian officials have sought to project support for Lebanon’s stability. Sources told the newspaper Nidaa Al-Watan that President Ahmad Al-Sharaa reaffirmed Syria’s full backing for Lebanon’s security and for efforts by the Lebanese government to restore sovereignty, including initiatives aimed at disarming what he described as Hezbollah.

The sources said Al-Sharaa made the remarks during a March 11 call with his French and Lebanese counterparts, Emmanuel Macron and Joseph Aoun, stressing the need to open a new chapter in Syrian-Lebanese relations based on coordination and cooperation to enhance stability on both sides of the border.

Al-Sharaa also criticized Iran’s role in the region, condemning what he described as attempts to destabilize Arab capitals. Speaking in a video conference with regional leaders, he said Syria had coordinated its position with other countries and reinforced its defensive posture along the borders to prevent the conflict from spilling over and to combat cross-border groups — an apparent reference to Hezbollah’s presence in frontier areas.

On the ground, Syrian government sources said authorities have monitored the arrival of Hezbollah reinforcements along the Lebanese-Syrian border in recent days. The movements are being closely tracked, with ongoing coordination between Syrian forces and the Lebanese army as officials assess possible responses to any escalation.

The sources stressed that while Syria would not tolerate any attack on its territory, there are no plans to deploy Syrian troops into Lebanon to assist in disarming Hezbollah in the Bekaa region. Reports suggesting such a move were dismissed as unfounded and aimed at undermining relations between the two countries.

Instead, Syrian officials indicated that their approach centers on containing tensions rather than escalating them. According to the same sources, Damascus is pursuing a strategy of gradually asserting control over its borders, rather than engaging in direct military confrontation with Hezbollah.

They warned that any miscalculation could draw Syria into a wider regional conflict at a time when it remains focused on internal stability and rebuilding state institutions after years of war.

Syria also has no interest in opening a new military front, the sources said, noting that Hezbollah itself is unlikely to escalate tensions with Syrian forces for now as it remains preoccupied with its conflict with Israel and the situation inside Lebanon.

Officials emphasized that the issue of Hezbollah’s weapons is ultimately tied to Lebanon’s sovereignty and internal political balance. Any attempt by Syria to intervene militarily inside Lebanon would be seen as a return to its former influence there and would lack both legal and political legitimacy.

Syria’s role, they said, is limited to preventing any armed group from using its territory to launch military operations. Under international law, the Syrian state retains the right to defend its borders and block unauthorized armed activity.