New Syrian Leader Meets Lebanese Prime Minister to Urge Easing Tensions Between Two Nations | WPN World People News

Ahmed al-Sharaa, the de facto leader of Syria, met with Lebanon's caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati in Damascus on January 12. The meeting aimed to improve the long-standing strained relations between the two nations and focused on enhancing security and cooperation along their shared border.

According to AFP, this marks the first visit of a Lebanese prime minister to Damascus since the outbreak of the Syrian civil war in 2011. It is also the first visit by a foreign head of government to Syria since December last year, when former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad was overthrown by rebel forces. In December, Syrian rebels launched a swift offensive, capturing Damascus on December 8 and ending the decades-long Assad family rule.

For years, successive Lebanese government officials avoided visiting Syria, primarily due to the involvement of Hezbollah, a Lebanese political and military organization, which supported Assad's government during the civil war. On January 9, Lebanon’s parliament elected a new president, with Commander-in-Chief of the Army Joseph Aoun winning in the second round of voting, finally ending a more than two-year presidential vacancy.

Sharaa expressed his desire to open a new chapter in Syria-Lebanon relations. He stated that the two nations will establish a long-term strategic partnership, emphasizing their significant shared interests. Sharaa noted that now is an opportunity to foster positive ties between the two peoples and expressed hope that President Aoun would bring stability to Lebanon.

Mikati, on the other hand, emphasized that bilateral relations should be based on "mutual respect, equality, and sovereignty." After the meeting, Mikati revealed that both sides agreed to cooperate in securing the land border and prioritizing the demarcation of shared land and maritime boundaries. Sharaa’s efforts have prompted EU foreign ministers to consider easing sanctions on Syria in discussions planned for late January.