By Gloria Ogbonna
Syriana Foreign Minister Asaad Al Shaibani traveled to Lebanon on Thursday for a series of high-level meetings with the country’s top political leaders, using the visit to reaffirm that Syria has no intention of sending troops into Lebanon despite ongoing regional instability.
Instead, Damascus emphasized its commitment to strengthening economic ties, expanding security cooperation, and supporting Lebanon through diplomatic engagement rather than military intervention.
The visit comes at a critical moment for the Middle East as Lebanon continues to grapple with an ongoing Israeli military operation launched earlier this year. While fighting has eased following a U.S.-brokered memorandum of understanding between Washington and Tehran in June, tensions remain high, particularly in southern Lebanon where Israeli forces continue to maintain a military presence.
During his meetings in Beirut, Shaibani repeatedly stressed that Syria’s new leadership is focused on rebuilding the country after years of devastating civil war rather than becoming involved in another regional conflict.
Syria Distances Itself From Military Intervention
Speaking after meeting Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, Shaibani said President Ahmad al-Sharaa had instructed him to deliver a clear message that Syria wants to build a new relationship with Lebanon based on cooperation rather than military involvement.
According to the Syrian foreign minister, Damascus now views Lebanon as an important economic and political partner and hopes to deepen cooperation between the two neighboring countries in ways that benefit both nations.
“Our priority is to strengthen economic cooperation and security coordination with Lebanon,” Shaibani said, while also condemning Israel’s continued military operations inside Lebanese territory.
He emphasized that Syria respects Lebanon’s sovereignty and has no plans to replace Israeli forces or launch military operations against Hezbollah inside Lebanon.
The comments represent another effort by Syria’s new government to distance itself from the policies of previous administrations that frequently intervened in Lebanese affairs for decades.
Israel Continues Operations in Southern Lebanon
Shaibani’s visit coincides with Israel’s ongoing military campaign in Lebanon, which began in February during heightened regional tensions surrounding the conflict between the United States and Iran.
Israeli officials have maintained that their military presence is necessary to prevent Hezbollah from rebuilding its military infrastructure near Israel’s northern border.
Although Washington and Tehran reached a memorandum of understanding in June that included provisions aimed at ending hostilities in Lebanon, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has insisted that Israeli troops will remain in southern Lebanon until Hezbollah no longer poses a security threat.
Earlier this week, Netanyahu visited Israeli positions in Lebanon and reaffirmed that his government would not withdraw prematurely.
“We will not leave southern Lebanon until the threat has been eliminated,” Netanyahu declared.
U.S.-Backed Agreement Seeks Gradual Stabilization
In late June, Israel and Lebanon signed a U.S.-mediated agreement intended to reduce tensions and gradually restore stability.
Under the agreement, Israeli forces will remain temporarily in two designated “pilot zones” while the Lebanese Armed Forces progressively assume responsibility for security in those areas.
Officials involved in negotiating the agreement described it as only the first phase of a broader effort designed to prevent Hezbollah from reestablishing military positions that were destroyed during recent fighting.
The arrangement also aims to minimize security gaps that could allow militant groups to regroup as Israeli forces eventually withdraw.
Syria Focused on Reconstruction After Civil War
Since taking power in late 2024 following the collapse of Bashar Assad’s government, Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa has repeatedly emphasized reconstruction and economic recovery over military confrontation.
Sharaa, whose forces fought both the Assad government and Iranian-backed militias during Syria’s prolonged civil war, has consistently argued that the country’s greatest need is foreign investment to rebuild destroyed infrastructure, revive the economy, and improve living conditions after more than a decade of conflict.
During Thursday’s meetings, Shaibani reinforced that message, making it clear that Syria does not intend to open another military front while the country remains focused on rebuilding.
Lebanon and Syria Launch New Cooperation Initiative
One of the major outcomes of Shaibani’s visit was the announcement of a new joint commission between Lebanon and Syria aimed at expanding bilateral cooperation.
Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam said the commission will focus on several practical areas that could strengthen ties between the neighboring countries.
Among the priorities discussed were:
- Improving electricity interconnection between Lebanon and Syria.
- Expanding transportation links.
- Increasing trade and commercial exchanges.
- Simplifying movement across the shared border.
- Enhancing overall diplomatic and economic cooperation.
Both governments described the initiative as an important step toward improving relations after years of political tension.
Syria Leaves Door Open to Future Hezbollah Contacts
While Shaibani avoided meeting directly with Hezbollah representatives during his visit, he suggested that future discussions could remain a possibility if circumstances require them.
Following a meeting with Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, a longtime political ally of Hezbollah, Shaibani reportedly stated that no meetings with Hezbollah had been scheduled during this visit.
However, he added that if future developments or the interests of both Lebanon and Syria made such dialogue necessary, Damascus would remain open to considering it.
Shaibani also emphasized that questions surrounding the framework agreement between Lebanon and Israel are internal Lebanese matters.
He said Syria supports calm political dialogue within Lebanon and backs any peaceful initiative that promotes national stability and serves Lebanon’s interests.
Lebanese President Welcomes Syria’s New Approach
President Joseph Aoun welcomed Syria’s assurances that it has no intention of returning to the interventionist policies pursued by previous Syrian governments.
Speaking after meeting Shaibani, Aoun said President Ahmad al-Sharaa has repeatedly assured him that relations between the two countries are entering a completely new phase.
According to Aoun, Syria’s new leadership has pledged that it will no longer support one Lebanese political faction against another but instead seeks balanced relations with all Lebanese institutions.
The Lebanese president described the shift as the beginning of a new chapter between the neighboring countries.
Historical Legacy Shapes Lebanese Concerns
Syria’s assurances carry particular significance because of the long history of Syrian military involvement in Lebanon.
Syrian forces first entered Lebanon in 1976 during the Lebanese Civil War and remained a dominant military and political force in the country for nearly three decades.
Many Lebanese leaders have made clear they do not wish to see any foreign military presence—including Syrian troops—return to Lebanese territory.
Officials familiar with Thursday’s meetings said one of the primary objectives was to clarify that Syria has no intention of responding to suggestions that it should intervene militarily against Hezbollah.
Trump’s Proposal Sparks Regional Debate
Shaibani’s visit also followed comments made by President Donald Trump expressing frustration with Israel’s military campaign against Hezbollah.
During the G7 summit in June, Trump criticized the pace and humanitarian cost of Israel’s operations, saying the campaign was taking too long and resulting in excessive civilian casualties.
He argued that Israel should avoid large-scale destruction while targeting Hezbollah fighters.
Trump also suggested that Syria’s new government might be capable of confronting Hezbollah more effectively.
“I suggested to Israel to let Syria take care of Hezbollah,” Trump said during the summit.
He praised Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa, describing him as capable and cooperative, while suggesting Syria could potentially address the Hezbollah threat without causing the same level of destruction.
Despite those remarks, Syria has not publicly indicated any willingness to undertake military operations against Hezbollah, and Thursday’s meetings in Beirut reinforced Damascus’ position that diplomacy, economic cooperation, and regional stability—not military intervention—remain its primary priorities.
As the Middle East continues to navigate a fragile security environment, Syria’s latest diplomatic outreach suggests its new leadership is seeking to redefine the country’s regional role by emphasizing reconstruction, cooperation, and dialogue rather than renewed armed conflict.
Source Breitbart
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