The Lebanese Hezbollah movement, which played a crucial role in defending the Syrian government throughout the neighboring country's civil war, has told Newsweek that the redeployment of its fighters would not be necessary in the face of a new large-scale rebel offensive.

The sources told Reuters that Hezbollah had not yet been asked to intervene, adding that the group was not ready to send forces to Syria at this stage following more than a year o

Diminished support for the Syrian government from Iran, Hezbollah and Russia enabled opposition forces to take the initiative and seize new territory.