DUBAI: Lebanon has expressed its intent to establish “the best neighbourly relations” with Syria, marking its first official communication with Syria’s new Islamist-led administration.
Lebanese Foreign Minister Abdallah Bou Habib conveyed this message to his Syrian counterpart, Asaad Hassan al-Shibani, during a phone call, the Lebanese Foreign Ministry announced on social media platform X (formerly Twitter) on Thursday.
This outreach comes amid significant shifts in the region. Hezbollah, Lebanon’s Iran-backed militia, played a crucial role in supporting Syria’s ousted president, Bashar al-Assad, during the civil war. However, over the past year, Hezbollah redirected its fighters to confront Israel, leaving Syrian government forces vulnerable.
Earlier this month, anti-Assad forces seized Syria’s border with Iraq, disrupting key supply routes used by Hezbollah to transport weapons from Iran. Days later, Islamist rebels captured Damascus, ousting Assad and installing Ahmed al-Sharaa as the de facto leader.
Al-Sharaa’s administration has signaled an openness to building relationships with Arab and Western nations, a departure from Assad’s policies. Lebanon’s outreach highlights the region’s efforts to recalibrate diplomatic ties amidst shifting power dynamics.