Lebanon seeks amicable relations with the new Syrian government

Lebanon expressed its eagerness to foster strong neighborly relations with Syria on Thursday, marking its first official communication with the new administration in Damascus.

Lebanese Foreign Minister Abdallah Bou Habib conveyed this sentiment during a phone conversation with his Syrian counterpart, Asaad Hassan al-Shibani, as reported by the Lebanese Foreign Ministry on X.

Hezbollah, the Iran-backed group in Lebanon, played a significant role in supporting Syria’s former President Bashar al-Assad throughout the prolonged conflict. However, over the past year, Hezbollah has redeployed its fighters back to Lebanon to engage in a challenging conflict with Israel, a move that has diminished the strength of the Syrian government’s defenses.

During Assad’s regime, Hezbollah utilized Syrian territory to facilitate the transfer of weapons and military supplies from Iran, passing through Iraq and into Lebanon. However, on December 6, anti-Assad forces took control of the border with Iraq, effectively severing this supply route. Just two days later, Islamist rebels captured the capital, Damascus.

Syria’s new Islamist leader, Ahmed al-Sharaa, is now working to establish diplomatic relations with both Arab and Western nations following the ousting of Assad.