Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani visited Beirut on Friday for his first official visit since the fall of the Assad regime, marking a key step in restoring diplomatic relations between the two neighbours.
Al-Shibani led a high-level delegation including Justice Minister Mazhar al-Louais, Intelligence Chief Hassan al-Salameh, and Deputy Interior Minister Maj. Gen. Abdel Qader Tahan. He was welcomed at Rafic Hariri International Airport by senior Lebanese diplomats before heading to meetings with Foreign Minister Youssef Raggi, President Joseph Aoun at Baabda Palace, and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam at the Grand Serail.
The one-day visit followed an invitation from Lebanon’s Foreign Ministry to discuss reactivating bilateral relations after years of tension. It was the first senior-level Syrian visit to Lebanon since the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad in December 2024, and comes amid regional efforts to stabilise ties after more than a decade of division.
Restoring diplomacy and coordination
Talks between both governments centred on strengthening diplomatic channels, re-establishing security coordination, and addressing long-standing disputes. Al-Shaibani and Raggi announced that the Lebanese-Syrian Higher Council, a body symbolising Syria’s former dominance over Lebanon, would be suspended, with all official dealings now conducted through the two embassies in Beirut and Damascus.
President Aoun described the decision as a positive step towards transparency, saying Lebanon looked forward to the appointment of a new Syrian ambassador. The Syrian side also confirmed its commitment to continued dialogue on key bilateral matters, including the status of Lebanese detainees in Syria, border coordination, and energy cooperation.
The meeting comes amid a wider regional shift following Assad’s ouster and Hezbollah’s heavy losses in its recent war with Israel. Syrian officials, long critical of Hezbollah’s involvement in Syria’s civil war, have signalled interest in redefining their relationship with Lebanon on a sovereign and equal basis.
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Refugee return, border security and future ties
Lebanon hosts around 1.5 million Syrian refugees, the highest number per capita worldwide.
Al-Shaibani thanked Lebanon “for hosting Syrians during the war” and said Damascus sought a “dignified and sustainable return” for displaced citizens. According to the UNHCR, some 850,000 refugees have returned to Syria since December 2024, with more expected to follow under new coordination frameworks.
Both countries also reaffirmed their commitment to implementing past agreements, including the 2022 deal to transport Egyptian gas through Syria to Lebanon’s Deir Ammar power plant. Officials highlighted this as an example of practical cooperation that could pave the way for broader economic and infrastructural projects.
In March 2025, Lebanon and Syria signed an accord to clearly define their shared border and enhance coordination to curb smuggling and infiltration. Syrian forces have repeatedly intercepted Hezbollah-linked trucks transporting weapons into Lebanon, while Lebanese authorities say cross-border security has improved significantly since Assad’s fall.
A cautious but significant diplomatic milestone
Despite renewed optimism, both governments face challenges rebuilding trust after decades of tension and mistrust. Many Lebanese still recall Syria’s 29-year military presence, while Damascus continues to view Hezbollah’s wartime role with resentment.
For Syria’s new leadership, the Beirut visit signals a desire to reassert legitimacy and return to normal regional diplomacy after years of isolation. For Lebanon, the visit represents an opportunity to address domestic concerns over refugees, security and economic coordination through structured engagement.
Al-Shaibani said his trip was meant to “reaffirm the depth of Syrian-Lebanese relations”, and reflected Damascus’s intent to “move past previous obstacles.” His words captured a cautious but meaningful shift, as both neighbours begin to rebuild a relationship reshaped by the collapse of the Assad-Hezbollah era.
