Syria and Lebanon meet in Beirut to revive diplomatic ties

Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shibani arrived in Beirut, Lebanon, on October 10th to meet with his Lebanese counterpart, indicating that tensions could be easing between the neighbouring states, according to AP.

Al-Shibani stated that the Syrian government wants to “move past previous obstacles and strengthen bilateral ties.” The Foreign Minister then added: “My visit to Beirut is meant to reaffirm the depth of Syrian-Lebanese relations.”

It is Syria’s first high-level visit to Lebanon since Bashar al-Assad’s toppling, and both Levantine countries seem to be reviving their ties after a period of strained relations. Syria’s al-Shibani also met with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam during his visit to Lebanon.

Hezbollah’s clashes with Israel have severely weakened the once-powerful Lebanese group, and with the ousting of Assad, these developments provoked a shift in the region’s dynamics, potentially offering a window for change.

Lebanon and Syria’s complex relationship means there are multiple subjects to tackle, such as border security, defining the status of approximately 2,000 Syrian nationals held by the Lebanese authorities, missing Lebanese citizens in Syria and the return of Syrian refugees who fled to Lebanon during the civil war.

An estimated 1.5 million Syrian refugees escaped to Lebanon after the country’s civil war broke out over 14 years ago. Since Assad’s fall from power, roughly 850,000 refugees have gone back to Syria from bordering nations as of last month. This figure is also expected to increase, according to UNHCR, the UN refugee agency.

Syria’s current government despises the Lebanese group Hezbollah for fighting with Assad’s forces during the civil war. And until 2005, Syria dominated the small Levantine country with a 30-year military presence, which leaves many Lebanese nationals bearing resentment towards their neighbouring country. However, al-Shibani reiterated his nation’s “respect for Lebanon’s sovereignty”.

Syria’s high-ranking officials accompanied the Syrian Foreign Minister, with the Justice Minister, Mazhar al-Louais al-Wais; the head of Syrian intelligence, Hussein al-Salama; and the assistant interior minister, Maj. Gen. Abdel Qader Tahan having been present, as reported by Lebanon’s National News Agency.

Beirut has showed its will to build stronger diplomatic relations with the new regime of Damascus, as two Lebanese prime ministers visited Syria after the end of Assad’s regime.

It was reported on March 28th, that Syria and Lebanon struck an agreement following deadly border clashes, to officially demarcate the Syrian-Lebanese border. It is hoped that the cooperation will avert future tensions and clashes.

Ever since al-Sharaa overthrew the Assad regime, the newly formed leadership has been working towards merging with minorities to create a more unified country, but violent sectarian clashes have still gone ahead. It was reported on July 28th, that the UN has sounded the alarm, as over 176,000 Syrians have been displaced amid violence.

A ceasefire has been reached with the Druze minority’s fighters, and another has been reached between Syria’s army and the Syrian Democratic Forces. However, these agreements tell us little about the real state of the nation’s stability, and Syrians have been cautiously optimistic about their country’s future.

The international community seems to have embraced the new Syrian government, and Western countries have lifted sanctions that were imposed during the Assad regime to help with economic recovery and eventually stability. Turkey has also repeatedly voiced its support for the Syrian government, pledging to help curb any attempts to divide the country.

While Syria’s government has been overwhelmed by violence, it has claimed that it wants to move forward with neighbouring countries in order to build a better future and long-term peace in the region.