Syria keeps up Hamas, Hezbollah support

Syria’s leadership pledged to continue sponsoring Hamas and Hezbollah. President Bashar Assad made the declaration this week in a speech to his ruling Ba’ath Party, reiterating his view that the Palestinian and Lebanese terrorist groups are engaged in legitimate “resistance” against Israel. Syrian peace overtures toward Israel in the wake of last year’s Lebanon war have stirred speculation that Damascus could cut ties with Hamas and Hezbollah as part of a bid to realign itself with U.S. interests in the region. But there has been no sign of this, and the United States — which accuses Syria of fostering the Iraqi insurgency — has come out against the idea of renewed talks between Damascus and Jerusalem.