Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa has moved to quash speculation about a potential Syrian military intervention in Lebanon, insisting that his country's approach is aimed at ending the war there, not extending it.
Ahmad al-Sharaa. Reuters
Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa has moved to quash speculation about a potential Syrian military intervention in Lebanon, insisting that his country's approach is aimed at ending the war there, not extending it.
"The rumours circulating about Syria entering Lebanon are nothing but speculation," al-Sharaa said in remarks reported Friday by Lebanese media, adding that "Syria's approach aims to end the war in Lebanon, not to expand it or become involved in it."
The denial comes after President Donald Trump recently suggested that Syria might be willing to intervene against Hezbollah in Lebanon, a statement that had fuelled widespread speculation about Damascus's intentions along its western border.
Al-Sharaa also addressed the sensitive question of the Syrian-Lebanese border demarcation, making clear it was not a priority at this stage. More pressing, he said, was the situation of approximately 1.4 million Syrian refugees currently in Lebanon and the need to find an appropriate mechanism to facilitate their return home.
Iran's Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei urged Muslim countries, particularly those in the Gulf, to unite against what he called their "real enemy" and said divisions among Muslims served the interests of their adversaries.
Top officials from Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan will gather in Istanbul on Monday for a first committee meeting under the joint defence accord that they signed this month, a Turkish foreign ministry source said.
At least seven people died and 23 were missing after a ferry carrying around 270 passengers and crew capsized off North Cyprus on Sunday, leaving survivors clinging to its overturned hull.
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