Hochstein: Iran's Withdrawal Weakens Hezbollah's Armament Capabilities
US Envoy's Statements Indicate Strategic Shift in Syrian Power Balance, with Hezbollah's Role Declining and Regional Supporters Withdrawing from Scene
December 7, 2024, 6:54 pm

Hochstein: Iran's Withdrawal Weakens Hezbollah's Armament Capabilities

آموس هوكشتاين

US Envoy Amos Hochstein noted Syria developments represent additional weakness for Lebanese Hezbollah, given difficulty continuing weapons supply from Iran, which began withdrawing from scene.

During Doha Forum participation Saturday, he stated "doesn't believe Hezbollah has been eliminated or defeated," emphasizing "party suffering heavy losses recent months no longer strong enough to attack Israel or support Assad."

He reported "Syrian army's collapse before armed factions wasn't big surprise, but last time two superpowers rushed to help," referring to Tehran and Moscow supporting Syrian regime since conflict outbreak.

These statements coincided with armed groups' control expansion in Homs and Damascus vicinity, where HTS and allies began final phase of capital "encirclement."

Coincided with leaks about Iranian Revolutionary Guards' Quds Force senior leaders leaving Syrian territory. Hezbollah brought additional fighters to Al-Qusayr area protecting positions, while refraining from engagement so far, according to organization-close source confirmation.

Unexpected field transformations emerged in Syria since last week, starting with northern Aleppo's fall, then Hama, reaching central Homs countryside. Local armed groups extended control over entire Daraa governorate, plus Quneitra and Mount Hermon, concurrent with Syrian army units' retreat.

Levant-Agencies

Doha Document: New Roadmap Determines Assad's Fate and Power Distribution Cairo and Amman Deny Claims of Inviting Assad to Form Government in Exile

BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, has sponsored the BuildHer CityHack 2025 Hackathon, a two-day event spearheaded by the College of Engineering and Technology at the Royal University for Women (RUW).
Aimed at secondary school students, the event brought together a distinguished group of academic professionals and technology experts to mentor and inspire young participants.
More than 100 high school students from across the Kingdom of Bahrain took part in the hackathon, which featured an intensive programme of training workshops and hands-on sessions. These activities were tailored to enhance participants’ critical thinking, collaborative problem-solving, and team-building capabilities, while also encouraging the development of practical and sustainable solutions to contemporary challenges using modern technological tools.
BENEFIT’s Chief Executive Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi, commented: “Our support for this educational hackathon reflects our long-term strategic vision to nurture the talents of emerging national youth and empower the next generation of accomplished female leaders in technology. By fostering creativity and innovation, we aim to contribute meaningfully to Bahrain’s comprehensive development goals and align with the aspirations outlined in the Kingdom’s Vision 2030—an ambition in which BENEFIT plays a central role.”
Professor Riyadh Yousif Hamzah, President of the Royal University for Women, commented: “This initiative reflects our commitment to advancing women in STEM fields. We're cultivating a generation of creative, solution-driven female leaders who will drive national development. Our partnership with BENEFIT exemplifies the powerful synergy between academia and private sector in supporting educational innovation.”
Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager, PR & Communication at BENEFIT, said: “We are honoured to collaborate with RUW in supporting this remarkable technology-focused event. It highlights our commitment to social responsibility, and our ongoing efforts to enhance the digital and innovation capabilities of young Bahraini women and foster their ability to harness technological tools in the service of a smarter, more sustainable future.”
For his part, Dr. Humam ElAgha, Acting Dean of the College of Engineering and Technology at the University, said: “BuildHer CityHack 2025 embodies our hands-on approach to education. By tackling real-world problems through creative thinking and sustainable solutions, we're preparing women to thrive in the knowledge economy – a cornerstone of the University's vision.”