Lebanon’s PM Meets Syrian Leader, Announce Collaboration on Border Security

Lebanon and Syria agree to collaborate on securing and delineating land and sea borders.
Both countries will form committees to address smuggling and other border-related issues.
Syria and Lebanon aim to build long-term strategic relations following Lebanon’s presidential election.

Lebanon’s caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati has announced that Beirut and Damascus will collaborate to secure their land borders and work on delineating both land and sea boundaries.

Eko Hot Blog reports that in a historic visit, Mikati became the first Lebanese prime minister to visit Syria in 15 years. He addressed a joint news conference alongside Syria’s de facto leader, Ahmed al-Sharaa, in Damascus on Saturday.

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Al-Sharaa stated that discussions included tackling smuggling between the two nations, addressing border challenges, and managing Syrian deposits in Lebanese banks.

He expressed hope for “long-term strategic relations” between Syria and Lebanon, particularly after Lebanon’s election of a new president, which has been much anticipated.

“We and Lebanon share significant interests,” al-Sharaa emphasized.

Both parties agreed to set up committees to address these issues and offer mutual support.

Al Jazeera’s Hamza Mohamed, reporting from Damascus, confirmed that the leaders agreed to take action to stop smuggling between the two countries, including the movement of weapons and drugs from Syria into Lebanon.

“This was quite important for the Lebanese leader and he mentioned that,” our correspondent added.

Lebanon’s eastern border is porous and known for smuggling.