Lebanese officials and Syrian authorities have sought to calm concerns over recent Syrian troop deployments along the Lebanese border, stressing that the movements are defensive and not directed at Lebanon.
A Lebanese official source said the reinforcements sent by Damascus are “intended to protect Syria, not to attack Lebanon,” noting that coordination is ongoing between the Lebanese and Syrian armies.
According to the source, Syrian officials reassured Beirut that the deployments are part of broader measures covering Syria’s borders with both Lebanon and Iraq. The steps are described as precautionary aimed at tightening border control and strengthening security amid regional developments and a rise in smuggling attempts.
Concerns had mounted among some Lebanese, particularly on social media, that the Syrian military buildup could signal preparations for operations in eastern Lebanon. The Lebanese Armed Forces moved to dispel those fears earlier this week.
In a statement issued Wednesday, the army said its units had “reinforced their deployment along the eastern border, in coordination with the relevant Syrian authorities.”
Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam also addressed the issue during a Cabinet session on Thursday. He said he had received a call two days earlier from Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani, who explained that the deployments were aimed at strengthening border control and maintaining Syria’s internal security.
Salam added that the Syrian chargé d’affaires in Beirut visited him the same day to deliver the same message, noting that the measures mirror steps taken along Syria’s border with Iraq.
“Both Syrian officials stressed their country’s commitment to maintaining the best possible relations with Lebanon,” Salam said, adding that Lebanon seeks to build a new relationship with Syria based on mutual trust and non-interference in internal affairs.
He also urged caution regarding misleading reports circulating online, saying such claims are intended to spread fear and distract from the country’s real challenges.
Syrian clarification
The Syrian Ministry of Defense also issued a statement emphasizing that the activity along the Lebanese border is an “organizational deployment of forces” as part of monitoring and control procedures, not a military escalation or action against any party.
The ministry said the move falls within the Syrian army’s responsibility to protect the country’s international borders and prevent illegal activities.
According to the ministry, border guard units supported by reconnaissance battalions are conducting patrols, monitoring the frontier, and regulating movement at official crossings and informal routes.
Deployment along the east
Local sources in Lebanon’s Bekaa region reported that Syrian forces have deployed along a wide stretch of the border, from the areas south of the Masnaa crossing to Masharii al-Qaa in northeastern Lebanon.
The reinforcements cover areas opposite the outskirts of Arsal, Ras Baalbek, and Qaa, east of Hermel in northern Bekaa.
Sources told Asharq Al-Awsat that some of the fighters stationed on the Syrian side include Uyghurs and Chechens, as well as brigades transferred from Idlib, raising concerns among residents on the Lebanese side of the border.
A Lebanese source, however, reiterated that the troop buildup is not aimed at Lebanon and should be understood as part of Syria’s internal security measures.
At the same time, border crossings between Lebanon and Syria have seen increased activity as Syrian nationals return home from Lebanon.
Between 450 and 500 people cross daily into Syria through the Qaa and Masnaa crossings, while authorities estimate that roughly three times that number leave through informal crossing points in northern Lebanon and the Bekaa Valley.
Lebanon’s General Security Directorate has facilitated the return of Syrians to their country, while the northern crossings at Arida and Aboudieh remain closed.
