BEIRUT — On Saturday, Syria’s embassy in Lebanon announced the suspension of consular services, which came shortly after the arrest of two family members of former Syrian President Bashar Assad at Beirut airport for allegedly using forged passports.
Lebanese authorities also turned over several Syrians, including former army officers linked to Assad’s regime, to the new Syrian government after these individuals were apprehended while attempting to enter Lebanon illegally, as reported by a war monitoring group and Lebanese officials.
The embassy made the news public via a statement on its Facebook page, declaring that consular operations would be halted “until further notice” based on an order from the Syrian foreign ministry; however, no specific explanation for the suspension was provided.
Two security sources from Lebanon, who chose to remain unnamed due to the sensitivity of the situation, indicated that the suspension was linked to the alleged forgery of passports by Assad’s relatives—specifically his cousin’s wife and daughter. Notably, Assad’s uncle, Rifaat Assad, who is facing war crimes charges in Switzerland, was able to leave the country the day prior using his legitimate passport without any obstruction.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a group based in the U.K., reported that around 70 Syrians, including former military personnel, were handed over by a Lebanese security delegation to the newly established Syrian authorities. This information was corroborated by three Lebanese judicial sources who requested anonymity.
Several regional nations are immediately forging connections with the new Syrian authorities. Delegations from Libya and Bahrain visited Damascus on official trips on the same day.
HTS leader Ahmad al-Sharaa, who was previously known as Abu Mohammed al-Golani, has largely alleviated concerns that his group would retaliate against communities that had supported Assad or impose strict Islamic laws upon religious minorities within the country. Nonetheless, sporadic clashes have erupted recently between HTS-led security forces and pro-Assad militias. The new security forces have recently undertaken numerous raids targeting loyalists of Assad and established checkpoints in regions with significant Alawite populations as they search for arms.
In addition, tensions and confrontations have persisted in northeastern Syria between Kurdish forces and Turkish-backed armed factions. The Kurdish population is increasingly worried about the changes in Damascus, which seem to bolster Turkey’s position in the region.
Turkey identifies the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces, which have been a crucial ally to the U.S. in the ongoing battle against the Islamic State group, as connected to its adversary, the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), considered a terrorist entity.
On Saturday, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken had a conversation with Turkey’s Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan regarding the latest events in Syria. The statement released afterwards indicated that Blinken advocated the importance of a political process led and owned by Syrians that ensures human rights and favors an inclusive government while also addressing mutual concerns about terrorism threatening the security of both nations.
Meanwhile, in the northeastern city of Hasaka, hundreds of protesters organized by Kurdish women’s groups gathered to advocate for women’s rights in the evolving political landscape of Syria. A protest attendee from Hasaka criticized the new government, declaring it “worse than Bashar” and accusing its leaders of being Islamist extremists who disregard women’s roles.
While the new government has not attempted to enforce strict Islamic codes or dress mandates, uncertainties remain about the political inclusion of women and their representation in government roles. “Women must be present in the new constitution for Syria,” asserted Rihan Loqo, a spokeswoman for the Kongra Star women’s organization, stressing the necessity for women’s rights to be recognized and upheld.
