Post-Assad Syria reaches out to Lebanon in bid to normalize ties

In a visit seen as highly symbolic and politically loaded, Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan al-Shibani arrived in Beirut Friday morning, marking the first official trip by a Syrian minister since the fall of the Assad regime on December 8, 2024.

Speaking alongside his Lebanese counterpart Joe Raggi, al-Shibani declared Syria's intention to “overcome the obstacles of the past” and reaffirmed Damascus’s respect for Lebanon’s sovereignty—a clear departure from the era of Syrian political dominance.

A major development came with the formal end of the Lebanese-Syrian Higher Council, a body established in 1991 under Syrian tutelage. Raggi confirmed all bilateral relations will now be conducted exclusively through official diplomatic channels.

The Syrian minister’s visit focused heavily on the fate of Syrian detainees in Lebanese prisons, a sensitive issue for Damascus. While details remained scarce, Lebanese Justice Minister Adel Nassar said proposals would be refined in the coming weeks, potentially through a judicial cooperation agreement.

The visit also brought together senior security and justice officials from both countries, highlighting efforts to revive structured cooperation on border control, detainee transfers, and broader regional coordination.

Syrian officials framed the visit as part of a new phase of national “reconstruction and renewal”, with potential positive spillover for Lebanon. 

Al-Shibani met with President Joseph Aoun, Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, and other top officials, signaling a willingness to rebuild ties after more than a decade of turbulence.

Meanwhile, a planned meeting in Moscow between Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa and Lebanese Vice PM Tarek Mitri was postponed due to the shifting diplomatic focus on the Gaza ceasefire negotiations.

Another high-level Syrian delegation is expected in Beirut in the coming weeks to continue talks on border security and unresolved bilateral issues.