BEIRUT — Lebanon and Syria have reached a significant agreement regarding their shared border, aiming to improve coordination and address security concerns along their often-tense frontier, as reported by the Saudi Press Agency on Friday. This development was solidified when defense ministers from both countries met in Saudi Arabia late on Thursday to sign the deal.
The impetus for this agreement follows recent clashes in the border regions that resulted in several deaths and dozens of injuries on both sides. The timeline of these events aligns with significant political shifts, including the removal of the Assad family’s 54-year regime in Syria last December. This transition has heightened tensions along the border, particularly in areas where Hezbollah, Lebanon’s prominent militant group, operated during Syria’s protracted conflict. Hezbollah’s involvement in supporting Assad’s government resulted in a devastating humanitarian toll, with the conflict claiming the lives of approximately half a million people.
This border agreement also occurs shortly after a prolonged conflict between Israel and Hezbollah weakened the latter group in Lebanon. Notably, Lebanese Defense Minister Michel Menassa had initially intended to visit Damascus, the Syrian capital, on Wednesday, but those plans were canceled. Instead, both Menassa and his Syrian counterpart, Murhaf Abu Qasra, traveled to Jiddah, Saudi Arabia, on Thursday. There, they engaged in discussions with Saudi Defense Minister Khalid bin Salman and finalized the border agreement.
The Saudi Press Agency highlighted that both Lebanese and Syrian officials recognized the strategic imperative of demarcating their border. The agreement proposed forming various committees focused on legal and specialized areas to enhance cooperation. Furthermore, it emphasized the need to activate coordination mechanisms to address any security challenges that might arise along the border. Saudi Arabia has expressed its support, recognizing the potential for this cooperation to contribute to regional stability.
In recent weeks, efforts have intensified on both sides to close illegal smuggling routes that traverse the nearly 400-kilometer (250-mile) border. These routes often remain unmonitored, contributing to ongoing tensions. Clashes erupted earlier this month when Syria’s interim government accused Hezbollah militants of crossing into Syria to kidnap and kill three soldiers, actions that purportedly occurred on Lebanese territory. The Lebanese government refuted these claims, stating that the individuals killed were smugglers.
While Hezbollah has denied any involvement in these incidents, reports suggest the involvement of local clans that engage in cross-border smuggling rather than any direct actions by Hezbollah itself. The clashes resulted in seven Lebanese casualties, and 52 were reported wounded as per authorities in Beirut.