Latest news with #LebanonSyria
Asharq Al-Awsat
03-07-2025
- Politics
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Demarcating the Lebanese–Syrian Border Tops Agenda of Trump's Envoy in Beirut
US Ambassador to Türkiye Tom Barrack, President Donald Trump's special envoy to Syria, is prioritizing the demarcation of the Lebanese–Syrian border during his meetings in Beirut this week with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun, Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, and Army leadership. The border issue is expected to feature prominently in Lebanon's response to proposals Barrack presented, as he considers it essential for establishing a mechanism to implement the ceasefire agreement with Israel and asserting Lebanese sovereignty under UN Resolution 1701. According to Lebanese ministerial sources speaking to Asharq Al-Awsat, Saudi Arabia recently hosted a Lebanese–Syrian meeting that defused tensions and ended clashes across the overlapping areas between the two countries in northern Bekaa. Riyadh's mediation created a favorable climate to advance border demarcation along the roughly 375-kilometer frontier from north to east. Saudi sponsorship of this process, along with measures by the joint Lebanese–Syrian committee to prevent further clashes, strengthened Washington's interest in supporting these efforts. Much of the violence has stemmed from rival smuggling networks once protected by the former Syrian regime and used for trafficking Captagon into Lebanon and beyond. Calls to demarcate the border date back to the National Dialogue Committee's first session in 2006, convened by Berri. At Hezbollah's request, the term 'demarcation' was replaced with 'delineation,' arguing it was more appropriate for relations between 'brotherly nations.' Nevertheless, the issue remained unresolved as Syria refused to engage in formal negotiations, especially before the assassination of Prime Minister Rafik Hariri, when Damascus consistently blocked references to completing the Taif Agreement or withdrawing Syrian troops from Beirut. Later attempts during Saad Hariri's premiership under President Michel Sleiman also stalled when President Bashar al-Assad declined to cooperate, citing other priorities. Illegal crossings continued to proliferate, justified as necessary for Hezbollah's movement to avoid Israeli monitoring and to maintain unregulated 'military routes' for arms smuggling. Sources revealed that in a Damascus meeting co-chaired by Hariri and Assad, Lebanon requested not only border demarcation but also a review of bilateral agreements under the Treaty of Brotherhood to address their pro-Syrian bias. While the status of the occupied Shebaa Farms was briefly raised, it was withdrawn to avoid jeopardizing talks. Though an agreement was reached to start demarcation from the northern border, Syrian officials later backed out, citing preoccupation with the Jordanian border. Lebanon has since prepared a detailed file with maps and coordinates, ready to support renewed negotiations under President Ahmad al-Sharaa. Officials believe the time is now ripe to demarcate the border and end agreements that once facilitated Syria's dominance over Lebanon.
LBCI
25-06-2025
- Politics
- LBCI
Terror returns? Damascus church bombing sparks Lebanese probe into ISIS ties
Report by Lara El Hachem, English adaptation by Karine Keuchkerian All signs — from Syria to Lebanon — suggest that terrorist cells remain active. In Damascus, a terrorist group bombed Saint Elias church. The Syrian government blamed ISIS for the attack, while a group calling itself Saraya Ansar al-Sunna claimed responsibility. In Beirut, the Lebanese army announced the arrest of one of ISIS' top commanders, Lebanese national R.F., known by the alias 'Qasoura.' Is there a connection between the church bombing in Syria and Qasoura's arrest? According to security sources, Qasoura had been under surveillance for months, and the army has never ceased its preemptive intelligence efforts to track and prevent sleeper cells from operating. While the Damascus bombing has not triggered any direct repercussions in Lebanon, sources consider it a warning sign — prompting continued security coordination between Lebanon and Syria. LBCI has learned that Lebanon has requested Syria to provide the identities of those arrested in connection with the recent church bombing. Authorities want to determine whether any are Lebanese, have criminal records in Lebanon, or are linked to extremist groups operating locally. They also raised the possibility of further joint security cooperation once the investigation concludes. Meanwhile, Lebanese-Syrian security meetings continue, especially following Prime Minister Nawaf Salam's recent talks in Syria. One primary objective of these meetings is to report any security breaches along the intertwined northern and eastern borders, where both countries share critical security interests. Lebanon's Army Commander, General Rodolph Haykal, visited Lebanese military positions in the Bekaa region two days ago to inspect ongoing efforts to maintain border control on the Lebanese side.
