Lebanon and Syria rebuild ties on equal footing after al-Assad's fall

Beirut, Lebanon – On May 9, Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam made his second official visit to the Syrian capital Damascus since the fall of the al-Assad regime in 2024. The trip came as both Lebanon and Syria endure Israeli attacks and ongoing occupation of their territories.

Analysts say this continues a 'new framework' in relations between the two countries, after decades of Syrian political and security influence over Lebanon and the period when Hezbollah provided military support to President Bashar al-Assad during Syria's civil war.

“Damascus is building the relationship on the basis of two sovereign and equal states, and it has been accompanied by institutional actions such as suspending the Supreme Lebanese-Syrian Council (which symbolized Syrian guardianship) and establishing mutual embassies,” said Nanar Hawach, senior analyst at the International Crisis Group, speaking to Al Jazeera.

New priorities

In December 2024, Syrian opposition groups launched a campaign to seize areas controlled by the al-Assad government. On December 8, Bashar al-Assad left the country, ending five decades of his family's rule. Syria at that time was devastated by civil war, isolated from the international community, and subject to numerous sanctions.

The fall of al-Assad transformed the landscape for Lebanon, according to Mounir Rabih, a Lebanese political analyst. “No one in Lebanon believed al-Assad would fall, and no one expected Ahmed al-Sharaa to take power,” he said.

The complex relationship between Lebanon and Syria dates back to the founding of the two modern states. In 1976, Syria under Hafez al-Assad invaded Lebanon and occupied part of it until 2005, when popular protests forced Syria to withdraw. Despite that, Syria maintained influence through close allies, but that influence waned from 2011 as Syria's civil war erupted.

The collapse of al-Assad cut off the land route Hezbollah used to receive weapons and funding from Iran. Syria's new government, led by al-Sharaa, is firmly opposed to Hezbollah, while seeking to reintegrate the country into the international community and play a key economic role in the region.

“Damascus's top priorities regarding Lebanon are controlling and demarcating the border, transferring Syrian prisoners held in Lebanon, repatriating refugees, and resolving the issue of pro-Assad figures hiding in Lebanon,” Hawach said.

A new chapter

One prominent issue is more than 2,000 Syrian citizens detained in Lebanon. In March, 130 Syrian prisoners were transferred from Lebanon to Syria, but hundreds remain. Most have never been tried despite years in detention due to political deadlock and indifference.

After his latest visit, Prime Minister Salam said the prisoner issue was discussed, along with boosting bilateral cooperation. “We discussed continuing to resolve the issue of detained Syrians [in Lebanon] and clarifying the fate of those who are missing or forcibly detained in both countries,” he said after meeting al-Sharaa.

However, two other major issues – Hezbollah and Israeli incursions – have not yet entered the formal agenda. Damascus is focused on sealing its border, disrupting smuggling networks, and supporting Lebanon's efforts to control weapons, rather than military intervention.

No agreement on Israel

Regarding Israel, the two countries appear not to have discussed any joint actions or agreements, each concentrating on internal stability first. “Beirut and Damascus share a genuine interest in pushing back against Israeli territorial expansion, but there is currently no structured coordination between them,” Hawach said. Each is negotiating separately under U.S. mediation.

Israeli attacks on Lebanon have killed nearly 3,000 people since March 2, when Israeli forces advanced deep into the south, causing widespread destruction and displacing more than 1.2 million people. A ceasefire was announced by Donald Trump on April 16, but attacks and evacuation orders continue.

Syria has also not been spared from Israeli attacks. In the year after al-Assad's fall, Israel carried out more than 600 airstrikes on Syria. On May 17, the Syrian Network for Human Rights (SNHR) accused Israel of 'slowly annexing' southern Syria. Israel has also taken additional land in the Golan Heights.

Syria's government avoids direct confrontation with Israel and instead leverages its new international standing to consolidate strength. In November 2025, al-Sharaa became the first Syrian leader to visit the White House, marking a blossoming relationship with the United States.

Mr. Rabih believes Israel is trying to drive a wedge between the two countries, but a new alliance is forming in the region. “Turkey and Saudi Arabia want Lebanon and Syria to coordinate,” he said, adding that Syria and Lebanon will seek protection from a broader alliance that can persuade the U.S. to pressure Israel to stop its aggression.

However, this issue lies within a wider regional framework. For now, Lebanon and Syria appear to be operating on an equal footing, despite Syria's history of dominating its smaller neighbor. “Lebanon is not a top priority in Damascus right now,” Hawach concluded. “The new government is focused on stabilizing Syria, managing the Israel issue, and securing reconstruction funding.”