Syrian foreign minister reassures Lebanon no military move

Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shibani visited Beirut on Thursday, July 2, 2026, to meet with Lebanese leaders and deliver a firm assurance that Damascus has no intention of military intervention in its neighbor. The visit, the first by Syria's top diplomat since President Ahmed al-Sharaa's government took power in late 2024, aimed to clarify relations after recent international debate over Syria's potential role in confronting the Iran-backed Hezbollah group.

During meetings with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, Shibani sought to dispel what he called confusion sparked by reports of a potential Syrian military move into Lebanon. He stated unequivocally that Syria has no intention of undertaking such a step and emphasized Damascus's desire to deal with Lebanon from state to state, closing a chapter on past mutual interference. Shibani extended an invitation from President Sharaa for Aoun to visit Damascus, which would be a first.

The diplomatic outreach follows comments last month by U.S. President Donald Trump, who suggested Israel should allow Syria to "take care of Hezbollah," arguing Damascus could do a better job. Those remarks fueled...