In a historic shift, Syria’s newly appointed leader, Ahmed al-Sharaa, pledged on Sunday to end his nation’s history of interference in Lebanon. Speaking to Lebanese Druze leaders Walid and Taymur Jumblatt in Damascus, Sharaa promised to respect Lebanon’s sovereignty and independence, marking a potential turning point in the fraught relationship between the two neighbors.
“Syria will no longer impose negative interference in Lebanon. We respect its sovereignty, territorial unity, independent decisions, and security stability,” Sharaa assured the delegation during the landmark meeting.
This announcement comes on the heels of a dramatic power shift in Syria. Sharaa, once known by his nom de guerre Abu Mohammed al-Jolani, emerged as the new Syrian leader after his group, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), and allied factions ousted Bashar al-Assad in a swift December offensive.
For Walid Jumblatt, a longtime critic of the Assad regime and a prominent Lebanese Druze leader, the meeting carried both historical weight and a cautious sense of optimism. Jumblatt, whose father was assassinated in 1977 in a killing widely blamed on Syrian authorities, described the visit as an opportunity to turn the page on decades of tension.
Sharaa acknowledged Syria’s fraught legacy in Lebanon, admitting that his country had been a source of “fear and anxiety” for its smaller neighbor. He promised that Syria under his leadership would maintain an impartial stance toward Lebanon’s internal affairs, a sharp departure from the era when Syrian forces dominated Lebanese politics and life, culminating in their withdrawal in 2005 after widespread protests.
Notably, HTS, labeled a terrorist organization by many Western nations, has sought to soften its image under Sharaa, vowing to protect Syria’s religious and ethnic minorities. Sharaa’s transition from rebel leader to statesman, complete with a suit and tie at the presidential palace, signals his intention to reshape Syria’s domestic and international posture.
This new chapter in Syrian-Lebanese relations could redefine the balance of power in the region, offering Lebanon a chance to emerge from the shadow of its larger neighbor. For now, Sharaa’s promises of sovereignty and stability bring hope for a future unburdened by the weight of past interference.
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