Hezbollah loses Syrian smuggling route

Dec. 14 (UPI) -- Hezbollah has lost one of its main supply routes because of the fall of the Syrian government, the group's leader confirmed in a televised statement Saturday.

Sheikh Naim Qassem did not mention deposed Syrian president Bashar al-Assad by name during a speech on Lebanon-based Al-Manar TV, which is operated by Hezbollah.

Hezbollah has previously adopted routes through Syria to smuggle weapons into Lebanon.

"These are just details within the resistance's activity. The new regime may allow this and the route will return naturally, and we may find another way. Resistance is a flexible thing which does not stop at one border," Qassem said during the speech, which also addressed several other topics.

The Hezbollah leader did say the Syrian people should have the right to choose who governs them and was supportive of the new developing Syrian government.

A week ago, al-Assad's regime ended abruptly after he was overthrown by the Islamist rebel group Hayat Tahrir Al-Sham. The 59-year-old and his family fled the country to Russia after ruling Syria for five decades.

Hayat Tahrir Al-Sham's push towards Damascus began in late November.

On Saturday, Qassem said Hezbollah would need time to assess a possible relationship with the group.

Both Hezbollah and Hayat Tahrir Al-Sham are designated terrorist organizations by the United States.