Lebanon: Hezbollah Sours on Syria

Sources in Lebanon told STRATFOR on May 19 that Hezbollah's leadership issued an internal memorandum approximately three weeks ago prohibiting its political and military groups from frequenting Syria. The group has also allegedly restricted Syrian laborers — often used by Syrian military intelligence — from entering Hezbollah strongholds in southern Beirut. The moves indicate Hezbollah's growing distrust of the Syrian government. For its part, Damascus has ties with Hezbollah but would be willing to loosen them in exchange for the level of recognition it wants from Israel and the United States.