Al-Shaibani: Syria Ready to Hold Meeting with Lebanon's Hezbollah if Necessary

ARK News.. Syria's foreign minister has affirmed that Damascus is prepared to hold a meeting with Lebanon's Hezbollah if circumstances require it.

According to Lebanon's National News Agency (NNA), Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani said on Thursday, July 2, 2026, during his meeting with Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, that Damascus does not intend to hold talks with Hezbollah at the present time, adding that such a meeting remains possible if it serves the national interest.

For his part, Lebanese President Joseph Aoun, during his meeting with al-Shaibani, reaffirmed Lebanon's commitment to Syria's stability, just as Damascus is committed to Lebanon's stability. He also expressed satisfaction with the level of coordination between the two countries, particularly regarding border security and efforts to prevent the smuggling of people and weapons.

Aoun added that Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa had assured him on more than one occasion that Syria's role "will not be as it was in the past," stressing that Damascus seeks to open a new chapter in relations with Lebanon. He also welcomed the establishment of the Syrian-Lebanese Joint Higher Committee to safeguard the interests of both countries.

Al-Shaibani arrived in Beirut on Thursday on his first visit to Lebanon since U.S. President Donald Trump suggested that Syrian forces could potentially assume the task of confronting Hezbollah in Lebanon.

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