The relationship between Syria and Lebanon has long been fraught, with each country intervening in the other's affairs. US President Donald Trump has repeatedly called for Syria to take the lead in disarming the pro-Iranian Lebanese group Hezbollah, but Damascus has balked at the idea.

Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani's visit to Beirut, which included a meeting with Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, a key Hezbollah ally, signals Damascus's stance. Analysts say this indicates Syria's desire to maintain channels with all Lebanese factions, including Hezbollah's bloc.

After the fall of the Assad regime in December 2024, Syrian-Lebanese relations entered a delicate transitional phase. Syria had occupied Lebanon from 1976 to 2005, but the new government in Damascus seeks a reset based on sovereignty and non-interference.

Hezbollah was a longtime ally of the former Syrian regime, fighting alongside it during the civil war. The current Syrian authorities fought against Hezbollah, making Trump's proposal for Syria to disarm the group unrealistic. Many Syrians harbor deep resentment toward Hezbollah.

Experts warn that any Syrian military intervention in Lebanon could trigger a wider regional conflict. Instead, Damascus aims to prevent the internationalization of the Lebanese and Syrian arenas, focusing on political and security coordination to counter Israeli territorial ambitions.

Source: www.aljazeera.com