With a calmer Syria, Hezbollah may reduce its fighters there

BEIRUT — The leader of Lebanon’s Hezbollah militia said Wednesday his group may reduce the number of its fighters in Syria because of an easing of the conflict.

A major reason cited was Monday’s Russian-Turkey agreement that prevented an offensive on the last rebel stronghold.

Hassan Nasrallah called it a “step on the road to making a political solution possible.”

It “will take Syria in the next weeks and months to a new phase,” Nasrallah said.

He said the deal’s success will depend on whether it’s properly implemented.

The deal calls for a demilitarized area around the Idlib enclave separating Syrian government forces and opposition fighters. It also calls for removing radical groups as well as heavy weapons from the area and for co-ordinated Russian and Turkish patrols to monitor the agreement.

Nasrallah said despite the calm prevailing on different front lines in Syria, his group will keep its fighters there.

“The calm on the front lines may naturally affect the number of forces present” as responsibilities and threat levels change, Nasrallah said.

However, he added, “We are staying even after the settlement in Idlib.”

Nasrallah said Hezbollah’s presence is linked to “the needs and approval” of the Syrian government.

“Like I said before, no one can force us to leave Syria,” he said.

Hezbollah has had thousands of fighters fighting alongside the Syrian government forces since the early days of the civil war that erupted in 2011.