The interim Syrian president, Ahmad al-Sharaa, denied what is being circulated about Syria entering Lebanon, stressing that Damascus’ approach at this stage is based on seeking to stop the war in Lebanon, not get involved in it.
Al-Sharaa’s remarks came during his reception of a delegation from the countryside of Damascus, where he clarified that Syria’s priority is focused on addressing the most urgent humanitarian and political files, foremost among them the repercussions of the war and the Syrian refugee crisis.
Regarding Lebanese-Syrian relations, al-Sharaa pointed out that the issue of demarcating the border between the two countries is not a priority at the present time, given that there are more urgent issues that require attention. He stressed that the issue of Syrian refugees in Lebanon tops the agenda, noting that there are about 1.4 million Syrian refugees in Lebanon, and emphasizing the need to work on finding an appropriate mechanism to ensure their return to their country in the coming phase.
In the same context, informed sources placed the recent hints by US President Donald Trump about the possibility of asking Syria to intervene against Hezbollah in Lebanon within the framework of political intimidation and media pressure rather than practical, implementable options. They indicated that previous Syrian messages were conveyed to the party through Turkey and regional parties, confirming that Damascus is not concerned with involvement in Lebanese affairs and seeks to turn the page on the past.
The Lebanese newspaper Al-Akhbar’s sources confirmed that al-Sharaa recently told Lebanese visitors that Damascus has no intention of any intervention in Lebanon. The Syrian Ministry of Interior also announced yesterday that “Lebanon is a sovereign state and not a backyard as the previous regime used to see it,” noting that “coordination with Lebanon is the basic pillar for any assistance Syria provides to it.”
As it was announced yesterday that al-Sharaa will head to Washington on the 14th of this month in response to an invitation from Trump, the French Press Agency quoted a diplomatic source as saying that the United States has been pressuring Damascus since the start of the Israeli war on Lebanon on March 2 to push it to intervene against the party. However, sources familiar with Damascus’ position stressed that any Syrian involvement of this kind cannot happen without clear Turkish cover, even if a direct American signal is issued in this direction, noting that Ankara is looking with increasing concern at the course of regional developments.
The sources pointed out that what Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan expressed in his recent speech, two days ago, reflects this concern, as he stressed that Turkey’s security does not begin in Hatay but in Aleppo, Damascus and Beirut, warning against Israeli expansion and the “Promised Land” project.
Source: Al-Manar English Website