Beirut, Lebanon – Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani will visit Beirut on Friday, at the invitation of his Lebanese counterpart, Youssef Raji.
This was the first time after the fall of the former Syrian regime
Al-Shaibani is expected to meet with President Joseph Aoun, as well as Prime Minister Nawaf Salam.
Meanwhile, the Lebanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs did not announce in its statement on Thursday the issues that will be put on the table.
Detainees, borders and displaced persons
However, it is expected that some outstanding issues between the two countries will be discussed.
These are the Lebanese detainees in Syrian prisons.
In addition to controlling the borders between the two countries and preventing smuggling.
Not to mention the displaced Syrians in Lebanon, a file that many Lebanese officials consider important and urgent.
Judicial agreement
Last September, the two countries agreed to form two specialized committees. These committees are to prepare preparatory texts for a judicial agreement between the two countries and another related to borders.
This came after the overlapping borders between the two countries witnessed security tensions and clashes. Many smuggling routes pass through these borders several months ago.
Last March, some Lebanese border towns were bombed from Syrian territory.
This resulted in the killing of seven Lebanese citizens and the wounding of 52 others. The Lebanese army responded to the sources of fire.
Meanwhile, dozens of Syrians in Lebanese prisons carried out several protests, demanding their release and return to their country.
It is noteworthy that relations between the two neighboring countries had witnessed many tensions during the era of former regime President Bashar al-Assad.
While Hezbollah supported him and participated in the Syrian war, many Lebanese politicians opposed him.
While Lebanon received nearly one million displaced Syrians.
However, hundreds of them returned during the recent period following the fall of the former regime on December 8, 2024.
