Syria in the 2026 Iran war

Ba'athist Syria

For decades prior, Syria, at the time known as Ba'athist Syria, had been Iran's closest Arab ally and a central component of the "Axis of Resistance",^[3][4] a coalition of non-state actors (and state actors, at the time) who are affiliated with Iran. The alliance arguably dated back to 1979 when the Syrian government at the time was the first to recognize the newly established Islamic Republic and later supported it during the Iran-Iraq War.^[5]

Most recently, Iranian forces, including the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), were deeply embedded in Syria during the Syrian civil war. This involvement dates back at least as early as in 2013, when Iranian and Hezbollah backing allowed the Syrians to regain control over the strategic Al-Qusayr District.^[6] Syria also helped Iran smuggle weapons to its proxies, most notably Hezbollah.^[5] This military absence was apparent when during the Twelve-Day War, Syria was not used as a launchpad for Iranian counter offensive strikes against Israel.^[7]

Fall of Assad

However, following the fall of the Assad regime, the newly established caretaker government began to adopt policies aimed at reasserting sovereignty and limiting foreign military influence (including Iranian ones), thus requiring foreign armed groups to either integrate into state structures or leave the country.^[8] This was also followed by increased relations with the West and straining relations with Iran and its allies, especially Hezbollah.^[5][9] Thus, following the fall of Bashar al-Assad relations between the Islamic Republic of Iran and the new Syrian government remained frozen.^[10]

Start of the 2026 Iran war

Despite tension with Iran, however, Syria remained neutral. This neutrality however was not absolute as the Syrian government supported its Arab neighbors following Iranian strikes and also reinforced the border in coordination with Iraq and later on with Lebanon, mobilizing its army to defend itself from possible threats.^[7]

On 28 February 2026, various news outlets, including Ynet, Reuters and Anadolu Agency,^[11][12][13] had reported that an Iranian missile had struck the city of Suwayda, however, the explosion was later attributed to an attempt by the National Guard militia to dismantle a missile from the old regime by the Syrian Arab News Agency.^[14]

February 28

Several Iranian missiles were intercepted by Israel, falling in southern Syria,^[15] an Iranian ballistic missile debris fell on a residential building in Suwayda, killing at least four civilians,^[16][17][18] however, the explosion was later attributed to an attempt by the National Guard to dismantle a missile from the Assad era according to the Syrian Arab News Agency.^[14] Other missile fragments fell in the city of Quneitra and in the Yarmouk Basin.^[19]

March 1

A jihadist group called "Hayat Ansar al-Tawhid al-Islamiyah" claimed responsibility for an attack with 8 Grad rockets launched from Daraa on the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights.^[20][21] Four people were injured after a missile fragment fell in Ein Tarma.^[22]

March 2

The group "Ajnad Bayt al-Maqdis" claimed responsibility for an attack on a base in al-Shaddadi with two 107mm Katyusha rockets. The group, which had formerly declared loyalty to Al-Qaeda,^[23] stated that the action was carried out "in response to the recent Zio-Crusader campaign led by the criminal Trump and the child-killer Netanyahu against the Islamic Ummah". The group also said that the attack was carried out by one of its brigades, "Jund al-Aqsa".^[24] and it described itself as active in both Iraq and Syria.^[25] The Islamic Resistance Front in Syria also claimed responsibility for the attack,^[26] the Syrian Popular Resistance also claimed responsibility, stating that it was a "precise attack with appropriate weaponry".^{[27][better source needed]}

An intercepted missile fell in Al-Fatih, Jableh countryside.^[28]

March 3

The Syrian Army sent troops to its borders with Lebanon, Iraq and the Israeli occupied Golan Heights.^[29]

March 4

A missile heading towards Turkey was intercepted by NATO near Kurdish-controlled Qamishli International Airport,^[30][31][32] leading to the missile to land in an empty field where curious locals gathered around the missile;^[33] the missile failed to explode.^[34] Israel carried out an incursion into southern Syria, shelling the area between Jamla and Saisoun in Daraa Governorate, and arrested four civilians. Israel accused Syria of deploying combat units to the Syrian Golan Heights, stating it will not allow the Hezbollah–Israel strikes to be used as a pretext to "harm the Druze" in southern Syria and demanded the Syrian government prevent Iraqi militias from crossing Syrian territory towards the Golan Heights.^[35][1]

March 6

The Rijal al-Bas al-Shadid, a group affiliated with the Islamic Resistance in Iraq, attacked the Rmeilan base with two drones, in retaliation for the "Zionist-American aggression" in Iran.^[36] A Lebanese soldier was shot at from the Syrian side of the border while at a Lebanese army post in the Al Qasr-Hermel area.^[37]

March 8

A Syrian pro-Iranian group called Kataib Jund al-Karrar, claimed attacks in Palmyra, attacks against Israeli targets in the Golan Heights,^[38] and an attack in the Tower 22, a military base in Jordan.^[39]

March 10

Following the Syrian presidency's support for the disarmament of Hezbollah and a campaign of mobilization by the Syrian army on the Lebanese border,^[40][41] shells from Lebanon landed in the town of Serghaya, 20 km (12 mi) from Damascus where the Syrian Armed Forces forces presided.^[42][43] The Syrian government accused Hezbollah of targeting its positions there,^[44] amid what they said was a buildup of Hezbollah forces along the border.^[45]

March 14

The Syrian forces removed mines along the border with Lebanon in the Wadi Khaled area, in anticipation of a possible clashes with Hezbollah.^[46]

March 19

Rockets were launched from Syria towards Israel and IDF positions in the Syrian Golan Heights; the missiles landed in open areas, without resulting in damage.^[47]

March 20

Israel bombed southern Syria, saying the strikes were in response to "reports of attacks against Druze civilians" in Suwayda Governorate.^[48] The airstrikes also hit several Syrian government positions in Izraa in Daraa Governorate, including command and control centres, supply depots, and facilities held by the 40th Battalion of the Syrian Army, in retaliation to the escalation of hostilities.^[49][50]

March 23

The Islamic Resistance in Iraq claimed responsibility for an attack on the Kharab al-Jir base in Hasakah; according to local sources, the drones were launched from Iraqi territory and belonged to pro-Iranian militias,^[51] at least six drones attacked the base, and the extent of the damage is unknown,^[52][53] the missiles were launched from Tell al-Hawa, and Syrian forces are coordinating with Iraqi police to arrest those involved,^[54][55] according to Wael Alwan, it was in response to the arrest of a Popular Mobilization Forces cell by Syrian security forces in Deir ez-Zor.^[56] During the same day 30 Israeli soldiers carried out incursions in Samdaniyah al-Sharqiyah and advanced toward the Ruwaihina Dam in the northern countryside of Quneitra province.^[57][58]

March 28

Missiles originating from Iraq were intercepted over the Al-Tanf base, according to the Syrian Army's Directorate of Operations.^[59][60] Kataib Jund al-Karrar claimed an attack towards the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights.^[61]

March 29

Four missiles launched from Iraq, fell at the US base of Qasrok, the vice president of the Syrian Ministry of Defense, Sipan Hamo, stated: "We urge Iraq to prevent a recurrence of these attacks, which threaten regional stability".^[62] Syrian forces were the ones that intercepted the missiles.^[63] The Israeli army led an incursion into Lebanon from the Syrian side of Jabal al-Sheikh, towards the Mount Dov area, in southern Lebanon.^[64]

March 30

Kataib Jund al-Karrar claimed an attack on Palmyra Airport, with a barrage of missiles that achieved a direct hit, against the US presence in Syria,^[65] also claimed responsibility for a drone attack on the Muwaffaq Salti Air Base in Jordan.^[66]

April 2

Protests took place in the Quneitra Governorate, where dozens of young people marched in cars and motorcycles to protest against Israel and to protest against Israeli practices against Palestinian prisoners,^[67] protests also took place in the Daraa Governorate, in Sanamayn, al-Hirak, Nasib, Nawa, Jasim, Inkhil, al-Harra, Sheikh Miskin, Tafas, Jillin, Qarfa and Namer,^[68] the Bedouin tribes in Daraa announced a general mobilization against Israel, arriving the southern Syria, near the border with Israel,^[69] militants in southern Syria declared that they "will not rest or give up" until the decision is reversed.^[70]

The Islamic Resistance Front in Syria conducted an ambush on Israeli forces in Quneitra, reportedly managing to take down a drone. Israel responded with air strikes and artillery bombardment in the region.^[71]

April 5

The General Authority of Ports and Customs of Syria suspended the crossing of Jdeidat Yabous, following an Israeli threat to bomb the road,^[72] the IDF spokesman Avichay Adraee stated that "Lebanese Hezbollah uses the border crossing for military purposes and arms smuggling",^[73] Mazen Alloush, the director of public relations for the General Authority of Ports and Customs of Syria, stated that it is exclusively for the passage of civilians and is not used for military purposes,^[74] the crossing was closed until further notice,^[75] the authorities evacuated the crossing.^[76]

April 6

Saraya al-Thabat, an Iranian-backed militia within the Islamic Resistance Front in Syria, claimed responsibility for an attack on the Golan Heights,^[77] declaring that it is "the first of our operations against the enemy within occupied territories and US bases in Syria, and is the beginning of a series of operations".^[78] The group operates in the border between Lebanon and Syria, in clear coordination with Hezbollah.^[79]

April 10

The Al-Qaeda group, Ajnad Bayt al-Maqdis, claimed responsibility for several attacks carried out in the "U.S. and Israeli targets in Syria", claiming attacks in Quneitra Governorate and Palmyra.^[80]

April 12

The Ministry of Interior and Internal Security Command announced the arrest of the Bab Touma cell, affiliated with Hezbollah,^[81] following an attempt to place an explosive device in front of Rabbi Michael Houri's house, near a Mariamite church in the Bab Tuma in Damascus,^[82][83] Hezbollah denied any connection to the cell.^[84]

April 16

The Syrian Army's 60th Division took the control of the Qasrak base,^[85] following the withdrawal of Combined Joint Task Force – Operation Inherent Resolve.^[86][87]

May 5

The Syrian Ministry of Interior and the General Intelligence Directorate announced that the Internal Security Command had arrested a Hezbollah cell accused of trying to destabilize Syria. The cell was alleged to have operated in Aleppo, Rif Dimashq, Homs, Latakia, and Tartus Governorates. Authorities said they had distrupted a "sabotage campaign"^[88][89][90] and seized a large quantity of explosive devices, RPG grenade launchers, automatic weapons, as well as various types of ammunition and grenades.^[91]

June 8

Following the launch of Iranian missiles towards Israel, debris from a missile intercepted by Israel fell in Zubayda, in the rural area of Quneitra.^[92]

July 17

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps claimed to have attacked a US special operations command center in Al-Tanf, Syria, in retaliation for the killing of Iranian soldiers in Iranshahr,^[93][94] within the "Operation Nasr 2".^[95]

August 10

The Islamic Resistance Front in Syria claimed an attack on the Israeli base of Al-Akou, in the Yarmouk Basin area, the group stated that the attack was "in retaliation for the blood of the martyrs and in response to recent Israeli incursions into the area".^[96]

Domestic

• Syria: Syrian Deputy Minister of Defense for the Eastern Region Sîpan Hemo condemned an attack on the US base in Qasrok.^[97]
• National Guard: Sheikh Hikmat al-Hijri reaffirmed his support for Israel by calling the Iran war as a "strategic direction of the allies", arguing that Iran has "destabilized the region" and harmed its own people.^[98]
• Islamic State: In the Islamic State weekly publication, Al-Naba, the Iran war was portrayed as a "divinely sanctioned" war among the "disbelievers" on both sides.^[99]

International

Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Egypt, and Turkey encouraged Syria to maintain its neutral stance. These countries also intervened with the United States to ease pressure on Syrian president Ahmed al-Sharaa, who has made it clear that he does not wish to become involved in Lebanon.^[100]

Gas shortage

On February 28, Israel suspended natural gas exports to Egypt, prompting Egypt to reduce its exports to Syria via Jordan.^[101] According to Safwan Ahmad, the large-scale smuggling of gas cylinders from Syria into Lebanon was one of the factors contributing to the shortage.^[102]

Syrian remigration

According to the UN refugee agency the total population of Syrian refugees in the entirety of Lebanon was 1.4 million people in March 2026.^[103]

Due to the 2026 Lebanon war thousands of individuals of Syrian heritage remigrated back in Syria, especially by using the Joussieh border crossing.^[104] A report dated 13 March 2026 by Intersos reported that other local agencies had recorded back on 10 March 2026 that 85,000–90,000 people had crossed the main legal border crossings from Lebanon to Syria. The demographic of these refugees was composed by 93% of Syrian returnees and 7% by Lebanese citizens.^[105] By 18 March 2026, only counting the Syrians, 119,000 people had crossed the border from Lebanon into Syria according to UN agency's Displacement Tracking Matrix.^[106] The people that had crossed the border in total by then were 125,000 people.^[107]