August 18, 2025

The Lebanon-Syria relationship has turned into a rollercoaster in just one year. Syria’s lightning-fast attack by Islamist insurgents toppled Bashar Assad, ending 54 years of Assad family rule and bringing new leadership to Damascus. Meanwhile, Lebanon faced a tough war with Israel that hit Hezbollah hard — this Iran-backed, Assad-loyal Shiite group was once a mighty force in the Middle East but now looks bruised. A deal brokered by the U.S. brought a delicate ceasefire, but the tension between Beirut and Damascus refuses to cool off, just like it has for decades. Border clashes have been deadly, striking fighters, civilians, and even a four-year-old Lebanese girl. Both countries have tried to work together on border security but politics move slowly. Lebanese leaders have visited Syria, but no Syrian officials have stepped over into Lebanon yet. Why all the cold vibes? Syrians don’t forget that Hezbollah jumped into Syria’s civil war to defend Assad. Many Syrians breathed a sigh of relief when Assad fell, but Lebanese folks now fear violent attacks by Islamic militants spilling over. New border rules make it hard for Lebanese to enter Syria and vice versa. Lebanon also worries Damascus might try to control them again. Historically, Syria has seen Lebanon as a hotbed for anti-Syria plots. Assad's dad even sent troops to Lebanon in 1976 during Lebanon’s civil war and kept them there for 29 years, almost like a colonial ruler. Syrian agents scared and tortured critics, both at home and in Lebanon, to keep their grip tight. Diplomatic ties started warming just in 2008 when Syria finally accepted Lebanon’s independence (Lebanon broke from France in 1943). This happened after a deadly truck bombing in 2005 killed former Lebanese PM Rafik Hariri, which many blamed on Damascus. Syria’s troops pulled out two months later, ending a long era of domination. When Syria’s civil war began in 2011, hundreds of thousands of Syrians fled to Lebanon. Lebanon now has the world's biggest number of refugees per person. These refugees often face discrimination and curfews. Hezbollah took thousands of fighters into Syria in 2013 to back Assad, fearful their precious supply lines from Iran might snap. All this split Lebanon inside, with some backing Assad and others opposing him. One big thorn: around 2,000 Syrians in Lebanese jails, many without trials. Syria wants them back, but Lebanon says no quick release and each case needs careful study. Families protested at the border in July, demanding freedom for their loved ones. Lebanon also pushed Syrian refugees to return home now that Assad is gone. There are about 716,000 Syrians registered as refugees and many more not registered in Lebanon, which has only about 5 million people. Syria demands billions of dollars stuck in Lebanese banks be returned too. Border fights heated up in March when Syria said Hezbollah kidnapped and killed three Syrian soldiers. Lebanon claimed it was just smuggling disputes with no Hezbollah involvement. Soon after, defense ministers from both countries met in Saudi Arabia and agreed to improve border security and draw clearer borders. Rumors flew in July that the Lebanese city of Tripoli might be handed over to Syria if Syria gave Golan Heights to Israel. Officials dismissed this but it shows the deep mistrust. Lebanon was also upset when Syria named Abdullah Shehadeh, a Lebanese army defector turned Syrian rebel, as a top security officer in a province next to Lebanon. Experts say the best way forward is for Lebanon and Syria to handle problems one by one, not as a big bundle. This slow, careful fix can help reduce tensions. Radwan Ziadeh, a senior fellow at the Arab Center in Washington, says that some loud Syrian voices calling Lebanon part of Syria don’t speak for the whole Syrian state. The road ahead is rocky, but the neighbors might find peace by working hand-in-hand to stop smuggling and sort out political messes, step by step.

Read More at Economictimes →

Tags: Lebanon-syria relations, Assad fall, Hezbollah, Border tensions, Syrian refugees, Middle east politics,