Syria and Lebanon discuss border demarcation after ceasefire
Nawaf Salam and Ahmed al-Sharaa in Damascus (Photo: x.com/nawafasalam)
Syrian leader Ahmed al-Sharaa and Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam discussed the demarcation of the land and maritime border between the two countries and security coordination. The issue was raised following the cessation of cross-border clashes, according to Reuters.
The meeting between Syrian and Lebanese officials took place a few weeks after the agreements on the ceasefire between the two countries.
A statement from the Lebanese Prime Minister's office indicated that his visit to Damascus will open a new chapter in the relations between the two countries based on mutual respect, the restoration of trust, and good neighborliness.
The office of the Lebanese Prime Minister also reported that the leaders of the two countries agreed to cooperate in the economic sphere and decided to create a ministerial committee for further work on issues of mutual interest.
The delegations of the two countries also discussed the fate of the missing and detained Lebanese citizens in Syria. This issue became a focal point after the fall of Assad's regime, which led to the opening of prisons and the discovery of mass graves in Syria.
Beirut claims that over 700 Lebanese citizens were held in Syrian prisons due to Damascus's influence on Lebanon during the Lebanese Civil War from 1975 to 1990.
Syria had significant influence over Lebanon during the decades of the Assad family's rule, maintaining a military presence there for 29 years until 2005, despite widespread opposition from many Lebanese.
Lebanon shares borders with Syria to the north and east, with Israel to the south, and is bordered by the Mediterranean Sea to the west.
Clashes on the Syria-Lebanon border
The mountainous border was a hotspot for several months after rebels overthrew the regime of Bashar al-Assad in Syria, who is an ally of Iran, and the Lebanese armed group Hezbollah, which is supported by Tehran.
The latest round of clashes occurred in March, when Syrian troops exchanged fire with Lebanese soldiers and armed groups in northeastern Lebanon.
At that time, Damascus accused Hezbollah of crossing into Syrian territory and abducting and killing three Syrian army soldiers. However, Hezbollah denied any involvement.
Meanwhile, a source from Reuters in the Lebanese security services reported that three Syrian soldiers were the first to cross into Lebanon and were killed by armed members of a tribe who feared an attack on their town.
In mid-March, it was reported that defense officials from Lebanon and Syria had reached a ceasefire agreement. This came as part of the efforts by both sides to halt clashes along their shared border.
