Lebanon-Syria Hold Landmark Border and Security Talks

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Lebanon-Syria Hold Landmark Border and Security Talks \ Newslooks \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ Lebanon’s President Joseph Aoun affirmed that Hezbollah’s disarmament will come through negotiation, not force, as part of a national defense strategy. Meanwhile, Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam visited Syria to strengthen ties and finalize a new border security agreement. The talks also addressed refugee returns and unresolved detainee issues between the two nations.

Quick Looks

President Aoun says Hezbollah disarmament must be negotiated, not forced.
Government affirms all weapons should be under state control.
U.S. pressure to disarm Hezbollah raises fears of civil unrest.
PM Nawaf Salam leads landmark delegation to Syria for bilateral talks.
Syria and Lebanon agree to enforce border deal signed in March.
Illegal crossings and smuggling routes to be shut down.
Hezbollah weakened after Israel war and loss of Syrian routes.
Lebanon seeks answers on citizens disappeared in Syrian custody.
Damascus wants return of Syrian fugitives hiding in Lebanon.
Lebanon urges international help in refugee repatriation efforts.

Deep Look

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun stated on Monday that the disarmament of Hezbollah, the powerful Iran-backed militia and political party, will be achieved not through confrontation, but via negotiated agreement within the framework of a national defense strategy. Speaking in an interview with Al Jazeera, Aoun emphasized that although Lebanon has decided that “weapons will only be in the hands of the state,” the focus now is on how to implement this through bilateral dialogue with Hezbollah itself.

This statement comes amid mounting U.S. pressure for Lebanon to curb Hezbollah’s influence, particularly its arsenal and presence in southern Lebanon. However, Aoun warned that applying force could spark civil conflict. “Civil peace is a red line for me,” he said, reflecting Lebanon’s delicate sectarian and political balance.

Aoun noted that the Lebanese army, which he once led as commander, is actively dismantling unauthorized military sites and confiscating weapons in compliance with the November ceasefire that ended the latest conflict between Hezbollah and Israel. Some of these operations have taken place in areas beyond the traditionally volatile south.

Historic Syria Talks Signal Reset

Also on Monday, Lebanon’s Prime Minister Nawaf Salam led a senior delegation to Syria, meeting with Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa in Damascus—marking the most significant bilateral engagement since Bashar al-Assad’s regime fell in December.

“Our goal is to open a new chapter based on mutual respect and trust,” Salam said in a statement posted to X.

At the core of the talks was the implementation of a March 28 border security agreement signed in Saudi Arabia. This includes demarcating the land and sea borders and enhancing cooperation to suppress weapons and drug smuggling across the porous frontier. The Lebanese-Syrian border has seen deadly clashes and ongoing unrest tied to trafficking and militant movements, particularly Hezbollah operatives who once moved freely between the two countries during Syria’s civil war.

Salam and Sharaa announced the formation of a joint ministerial committee to monitor progress, coordinate security, and shut down illegal border crossings. With Hezbollah now weakened by its recent war with Israel and the collapse of Assad’s network, the group has lost critical supply routes, making the border enforcement more strategically significant.

Seeking Justice for the Disappeared

The Lebanese delegation also pressed for answers on the thousands of Lebanese citizens who vanished or were imprisoned in Syria during its nearly three-decade occupation of Lebanon, particularly in the 1980s and 1990s. These cases remain a source of deep national trauma.

In response, Syrian officials demanded clarity on Syrian nationals detained in Lebanese prisons, with both sides acknowledging ongoing human rights concerns over due process and prison conditions.

Salam confirmed that Lebanon agreed to extradite individuals involved in crimes linked to the Assad regime if found within its territory. In exchange, Lebanon requested Syria hand over suspects wanted for high-profile political assassinations, including those tied to the 2013 mosque bombings in Tripoli that killed over 40 people. Damascus has long denied involvement in Lebanon’s wave of political assassinations, though suspicions remain deeply entrenched.

Refugee Repatriation in Focus

Another key item on the agenda was the fate of the 1.5 million Syrian refugees currently residing in Lebanon — the highest per capita refugee population in the world. Only 755,000 are registered with the UNHCR, and Lebanese officials have repeatedly called for mass repatriation, arguing the burden is unsustainable for the crisis-stricken country.

While some 400,000 Syrian refugees have returned since Assad’s ouster, about half were from Lebanon. Yet, many remain hesitant to return due to the ongoing economic hardship and instability in Syria, as well as fear of retribution or forced conscription.

Human rights groups have cautioned against forced returns, citing safety risks and the potential for human rights violations. Lebanese officials, however, say a coordinated and voluntary repatriation framework is needed, along with international support.

Rumors Denied: Syria’s Moscow Envoy Speaks Out

Meanwhile, Syrian Ambassador to Russia, Bashar Jaafari, dismissed rumors that he had sought asylum in Russia after the fall of Assad’s government. Russian state media initially reported that Jaafari, a longtime Assad loyalist, had requested asylum following alleged pressure to return to Syria.

However, Jaafari told RIA Novosti he had made no such request, denying the report. The incident highlights the uncertainty around many former Assad-era figures, as Syria’s political landscape continues to evolve under interim leadership.