Arab League Readmits Syria as Relations with Assad Normalize

In this file photo released by the official Syrian state news agency SANA, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, right, receives a delegation representing various Arab parliaments in Damascus, Feb. 26, 2023. (SANA via AP)
In this file photo released by the official Syrian state news agency SANA, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, right, receives a delegation representing various Arab parliaments in Damascus, Feb. 26, 2023. (SANA via AP)
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Arab League Readmits Syria as Relations with Assad Normalize

In this file photo released by the official Syrian state news agency SANA, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, right, receives a delegation representing various Arab parliaments in Damascus, Feb. 26, 2023. (SANA via AP)
In this file photo released by the official Syrian state news agency SANA, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, right, receives a delegation representing various Arab parliaments in Damascus, Feb. 26, 2023. (SANA via AP)

The Arab League readmitted Syria after more than a decade of suspension on Sunday, consolidating a regional push to normalize ties with President Bashar al-Assad. 

The decision said Syria could resume its participation in Arab League meetings immediately, while calling for a resolution of the crisis resulting from Syria's civil war, including the flight of refugees to neighboring countries and drug smuggling across the region. 

Jordan's foreign minister said last week that the Arab League's reacceptance of Syria, which remains under Western sanctions, would only be the start of "a very long and difficult and challenging process". 

"The reinstatement of Syria does not mean normalization of relations between Arab countries and Syria," Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit told a press conference in Cairo on Sunday. "This is a sovereign decision for each country to make." 

A Jordanian official said Syria would need to show it was serious about reaching a political solution, since this would be a pre-condition to lobbying for any lifting of Western sanctions, a crucial step for funding reconstruction. 

Sunday's decision said Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Lebanon, Egypt and the Arab League's Secretary General would form a ministerial group to liaise with the Syrian government and seek solutions to the crisis through reciprocal steps. 

Practical measures included continuing efforts to facilitate the delivery of aid in Syria, according to a copy of the decision seen by Reuters. 

Syria's readmission follows a Jordanian initiative laying out a roadmap for ending Syria's conflict that includes addressing the issues of refugees, missing detainees, drug smuggling and Iranian militias in Syria. 

Jordan is both a destination and a main transit route to other countries for captagon, a highly-addictive amphetamine produced in Syria. 

Syria's membership of the Arab League was suspended in 2011 after the crackdown on street protests against Assad that led to the civil war.  

Assad later regained control over much of Syria with the help of his main allies Iran and Russia, but the war cost hundreds of thousands of lives and led millions to flee the country. Syria remains splintered with its economy in ruins. 

Responding to a question over whether Assad could participate in the next Ara League summit, Aboul Gheit told reporters: "If he wishes, because Syria, starting from this evening, is a full member of the Arab League." 

"When the invitation is sent by the host country, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and if he wishes to participate, he will participate," he added. 



Hezbollah Provocations Spark Condemnation in Lebanon, Refusal to Be Drawn to Strife

Residents of the southern Lebanese village of Kfar Kila parade with Hezbollah flags on the Burj al-Muoluk road on the outskirts of their village on January 27, 2025. (AFP)
Residents of the southern Lebanese village of Kfar Kila parade with Hezbollah flags on the Burj al-Muoluk road on the outskirts of their village on January 27, 2025. (AFP)
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Hezbollah Provocations Spark Condemnation in Lebanon, Refusal to Be Drawn to Strife

Residents of the southern Lebanese village of Kfar Kila parade with Hezbollah flags on the Burj al-Muoluk road on the outskirts of their village on January 27, 2025. (AFP)
Residents of the southern Lebanese village of Kfar Kila parade with Hezbollah flags on the Burj al-Muoluk road on the outskirts of their village on January 27, 2025. (AFP)

Hezbollah supporters have resorted to provocative rallies in several areas in Beirut, Mount Lebanon and the South to "deliver messages" to President Joseph Aoun and Prime Minister-designate Nawaf Salam.

Supporters of the Iran-backed party have since Sunday mobilized motorcycle convoys, with riders raising Hezbollah flags and chanting sectarian slogans, in areas that are opposed to the party.

Hezbollah had constantly employed such methods to deliver security messages whenever Lebanon was in the process of meeting political deadlines, such as the formation of a government as is the case at the moment.

The first fallout from the provocations was United Arab Emirates businessman Khalaf Ahmad Al Habtoor, the head of Dubai conglomerate Al Habtoor Group, announcing on Tuesday that he had cancelled all planned investments in Lebanon due to continuing instability, and would sell all his properties and investments in the country.

Al Habtoor said in a statement that the unrest and instability in Lebanon by "factions loyal to armed militias in the country paint a grim picture."

"The continued dominance of armed militias (the Shiite militias) and the failure to establish rule of law make it impossible for any investor to proceed with confidence in such an environment," he said.

Last week, Al Habtoor had expressed an intention to invest in Lebanon once a new government was formed.

Provocative convoys

The motorcycle convoys had departed from Beirut’s southern suburbs, known as Dahieh, a Hezbollah stronghold. They headed to several neighborhoods in the capital that are known for their opposition to the party.

The same scenes took place in the Christian town of Maghdouche in the South, leading to a scuffle between the motorists and locals.

On Monday, the locals awoke to Hezbollah slogans spraypainted over their town’s entrance sign.

Similar provocations took place in Christian-majority regions in Mount Lebanon, drawing condemnation from Christian parties and their supporters.

The Lebanese army had announced the arrest of several of the motorists.

In statement, it said that it carried out the arrests after "some citizens, riding on motorcycles, rode around several Lebanese regions while carrying party flags, firing gunshots and chanting provocative slogans."

It added that it deployed patrols to "prevent the undermining of security and stability", calling on the people to "act responsibly to protect national unity and coexistence."

Amal warns against provocations

The Amal movement – a close Hezbollah ally – notably warned its supporters against joining the Hezbollah convoys.

In a statement, it warned them against taking part in "any provocative act that goes against the orders of the movement command, which calls for respecting all Lebanese people regardless of their sect."

It specifically cautioned against "joining motorcycle convoys or carrying out any provocative act and chanting sectarian slogans that violate the movement’s treaty and vision."

Any violators will risk being expelled from the movement, it added.

The provocations were discussed by parliament Speaker and Amal movement leader Nabih Berri and deputy Speaker Elias Bou Saab at Ain el-Tineh.

Bou Saab said these convoys "only serve the enemy (Israel). I hope they can be stopped because everyone in Lebanon took in the residents of the South and Dahieh" during Israel’s war on Hezbollah.

He described the convoys as "unacceptable", stressing the need for unity with residents of the South who bore the brunt of the Israeli war.

Unity cannot be achieved through such provocations, he remarked.

No to strife

Hezbollah’s opponents are in agreement in rejecting the rallies, declaring that they will not be dragged to strife and saying that the army will maintain calm.

Lebanese Forces sources said the convoys are clearly aimed at sending messages to the president and PM-designate.

"The state may have opened a new chapter, but one team is still acting arrogantly and refuses to acknowledge these changes. So, it has resorted to delivering messages that say that it represents de facto powers, and it will continue to act this way," they told Asharq Al-Awsat.

Another message aims to impose conditions on the formation of the new government and drafting of its ministerial statement to include the "army, people and resistance (Hezbollah)" term, it went on to say.

Regardless of the provocations, the sources stressed that the LF will not be lured to strife and it will continue to turn to the army to maintain stability, noting its statement and arrest of some of the motorists.

Kataeb Party MP Salim al-Sayegh condemned the convoys, saying: "We will not play Hezbollah’s game no matter the cost."

"We will not be dragged towards terrorist methods they are using against the residents of Beirut and Mount Lebanon," he said in televised remarks. "We are adhering to the state and laws and banking on the army."

"Confronting Israel does not take place in Beirut and Mount Lebanon. They cannot make up for their heavy losses (in the war) by striking ‘victories’ against their fellow countrymen," he added.

MP Michel Mouawad condemned Hezbollah, stressing: "We will always choose partnership while respecting the state, its sovereignty and constitution."

"No matter what, we will not yield to those who believe they can break the will of the Lebanese people through extortion, domineering methods and accusations of treason," he said on the X platform.

Head of the Free Patriotic Movement MP Gebran Bassil – a former Hezbollah ally – condemned the provocations. The residents of the South were "heroic" as they returned to their homes on Sunday, while "sectarian provocations that night only served to tarnish this heroism," he said in a post on the X on Monday.

He added that the sectarian provocations only serve to "deepen the divisions and advocates of this division. Extremism only leads to extremism and Lebanon will be the loser in the end."