Syrian government and Hezbollah representatives held face-to-face talks in Turkey last month to ease tensions, six sources said, describing the first known meeting between the longtime foes.

Syrian intelligence and foreign ministry officials met with Hezbollah representatives at least once in September at the invitation of Turkish security and intelligence agencies, the sources, including two Syrian officials, a US official and a senior Lebanese security source close to Hezbollah, said. All spoke anonymously.

They said the talks went well, focusing on mutual security concerns. "There is no hostility between us, and Damascus assured Hezbollah that it would not intervene militarily in Lebanon to disarm the group, one Syrian official said. Syria then asked Hezbollah to help stop cross-border arms smuggling and break up remaining cells, particularly in southern Syria. Hezbollah did not respond directly to the request, the official said, but vowed not to interfere in Syria's affairs.

"The sides have made a lot of progress on security issues," the Lebanese source said, adding that Hezbollah wanted to protect its flank against a possible Syrian attack inside Lebanon. Neither the source nor the Syrian official said that a final agreement had been reached and that they planned to make an announcement. Contacts via Turkey started about two months ago, the Lebanese source said.

Turkey’s presidential communications directorate later dismissed the allegations as “completely unfounded” and “fabricated.” Syria’s account on X in English also said the claims were untrue. Hezbollah’s media office declined comment before publication. Syria’s foreign ministry, Turkey’s foreign and defense ministries and the US State Department did not respond to Reuters’ questions.

For years Hezbollah has been fighting in support of former President Bashar al-Assad. After his removal from power in late 2024, tensions flared: Damascus accused the group of smuggling weapons through Syria, and Washington called on Syria to do something about it. Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani said in July that Damascus was open to meet the group. A month later Hezbollah chief Naim Qassem said the group had no objection to meeting Syria’s leadership.

Turkey, a key ally of President Ahmed al-Sharaa, had called for the meeting, three sources said. Iran, Hezbollah’s key sponsor, was not present. The Lebanese source said Hezbollah was there with Tehran's knowledge, but Iran was disappointed it was not involved directly and that Sharaa had rejected direct ties with Iran for now, which the source said was the main reason no deal was announced.