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Lebanon Moves to Reset Syria Ties With Envoy Appointment

Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa receives the credentials of Lebanese ambassador Henry Kastoun in Damascus, attended by Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani - (Syrian presidency)
Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa receives the credentials of Lebanese ambassador Henry Kastoun in Damascus, attended by Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani - (Syrian presidency)
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Lebanon Moves to Reset Syria Ties With Envoy Appointment

Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa receives the credentials of Lebanese ambassador Henry Kastoun in Damascus, attended by Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani - (Syrian presidency)
Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa receives the credentials of Lebanese ambassador Henry Kastoun in Damascus, attended by Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani - (Syrian presidency)

The appointment of Lebanese ambassador Henry Kastoun in Damascus, formalized Wednesday when he presented his credentials to Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa, signals a significant reset in relations between Lebanon and Syria.

It ends a four year diplomatic vacuum and opens a new chapter in which both governments are expected to confront long standing issues, including the fate of Syrian detainees in Lebanon, the refugee crisis, and cross border smuggling, in a bid to place the relationship on firmer and more transparent footing.

Representation after vacancy

The Syrian presidency said on Wednesday that al-Sharaa received the credentials of Ambassador Kastoun, Lebanon’s envoy to the Syrian Arab Republic, at the People’s Palace in Damascus, in the presence of Foreign Minister and Expatriates Asaad al Shibani.

Kastoun fills a four year vacancy, arriving seventeen years after the establishment of full diplomatic representation between the two countries. Diplomatic ties were formalized in 2008 when Michel el-Khoury was appointed Lebanon’s first ambassador to Syria since independence, a historic step that ended decades of uneven representation.

El-Khoury remained in the post until late 2013, after which the position remained vacant until 2017, when Saad Zakhia took over as the second ambassador and served until the end of 2021.

His term was followed by a second diplomatic void that lasted until Kastoun’s appointment in 2025, restoring the Lebanese diplomatic presence in Damascus.

Amending the relationship

While the appointment ushers in a new path for official engagement, Deputy Prime Minister Tarek Mitri had earlier said that diplomatic exchange would resume soon, noting that the past five decades witnessed an unequal relationship between Lebanon and Syria.

The current phase allows for opening a new diplomatic page based on reciprocity and mutual respect.

It follows the suspension of the Higher Council in October 2024, coinciding with a visit by Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani to Beirut, during which he spoke of a historic opportunity to shift the relationship from a troubled security driven trajectory to a political and economic partnership.

At the time, authorities announced the suspension of the Lebanese-Syrian Higher Council, which for decades served as the central mechanism for managing joint issues during the period of Syrian influence in Lebanon, a sign of an evolving approach rather than a continuation of previous institutional frameworks.

Detainees

In parallel with the diplomatic step, a senior Lebanese judicial delegation visited Damascus on Wednesday to discuss a draft agreement that would allow the transfer of detainees and convicts to their home countries in a manner that does not conflict with Lebanese law, according to local media reports.

The delegation was headed by Government Commissioner to the Military Court Judge Claude Ghanem and included Judges Mona Hanqir and Jad Maalouf. They met Syrian Justice Minister Mazhar al-Weis and senior judicial officials.

Lebanon’s Al-Jadeed television said the two sides reached an initial draft that requires amendments before final approval. The talks did not cover the cases of convicts involved in fighting against the Lebanese army.

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Arab World

Berri Rejects Threats to Lebanese, Stands Firm on ‘Constants’ in Israel Talks

Lebanon Speaker Berri Receives United States Ambassador Michel Issa (Parliament)
Lebanon Speaker Berri Receives United States Ambassador Michel Issa (Parliament)
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Berri Rejects Threats to Lebanese, Stands Firm on ‘Constants’ in Israel Talks

Lebanon Speaker Berri Receives United States Ambassador Michel Issa (Parliament)
Lebanon Speaker Berri Receives United States Ambassador Michel Issa (Parliament)

Lebanon’s Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri dismissed what he called efforts to intimidate the Lebanese and underscored the "fundamental constants” that he says anchor negotiations with Israel via the Mechanism Committee.

 

He insisted that the May parliamentary elections will go ahead as scheduled and described his personal relationship with Saudi Arabia as “very good”, adding that ties between Lebanon and the kingdom were “good”.

 

Berri made the remarks during a meeting with senior Lebanese journalists from the Press Syndicate headed by Aouni Al-Kaaki.

 

His comments coincided with his second meeting in 24 hours with the United States ambassador to Beirut, Michel Issa.

 

According to a statement from the Speaker’s office, the talks reviewed “developments in the general situation and the latest events, as well as bilateral relations”.

 

Barrack’s “mistake”

 

Responding to a question from the syndicate on “threats voiced by some diplomats, especially repeated remarks by United States envoy Tom Barrack about joining Lebanon to Syria”, Berri said: “No one threatens the Lebanese."

 

"It is inconceivable to address the Lebanese in such language, especially from diplomats, let alone from someone like Ambassador Tom Barrack. What he said about annexing Lebanon to Syria is a big mistake that is completely unacceptable,” he added.

 

Berri said the Lebanese have “no alternative and no escape” from facing risks, repercussions and threats from any side except through unity, adding, “With unity we can liberate the land.”

 

Turning to the ceasefire agreement and negotiations, Berri asked, “Is the Mechanism Committee not a negotiating framework?”

 

“There are constants we negotiate through this committee, namely Israeli withdrawal, deployment of the Lebanese Army, and limiting weapons in the area south of the Litani to the hands of the Lebanese Army,” he explained, adding that the committee operates under American, French and United Nations sponsorship.

 

He added, “I have said more than once that there is no objection to bringing in any civilian or technical figure if needed, provided the agreement is implemented.”

 

Berri said Lebanon has fulfilled all required steps since November 2024. He said the Lebanese Army has deployed more than 9,300 officers and soldiers with the support of UNIFIL, which confirmed in its latest reports Lebanon’s compliance with all its obligations.

 

He added that Israel has violated the agreement with about 11,000 breaches.

 

Berri said the Lebanese Army has implemented 90 percent of the ceasefire provisions south of the Litani and will fully complete the remaining steps by the end of the year.

 

He said this was confirmed by UNIFIL, the Mechanism Committee and Army Commander General Rodolf Haykal.

 

“It is unfortunate that no one is asking whether Israel has complied with even a single clause of the ceasefire agreement. Instead, it has expanded its occupation of Lebanese territory,” he said.

 

No cancellation of parliamentary elections

 

On calls by some parliamentary blocs to amend the electoral law regarding expatriate voting, Berri said the existing law is in force and the elections will be held according to it.

 

“There will be no cancellation and no postponement. Everyone wants elections,” he said.

He added that he remains open to any formula leading to consensus on outstanding issues that divide political forces, especially the question of expatriates.

 

“No one wants to exclude expatriates. Even so, I have said and will repeat that we should implement the Taif Agreement in its provisions related to the electoral law and the establishment of a Senate. But are they willing?” he asked.

 

Berri reiterated that Lebanese bank deposits are “sacred rights” and warned that these rights must not be compromised, surrendered or accepted as lost.

 

Arab World

Talks Fail on Transfer Mechanism for Syrian Prisoners in Lebanon

Prisoners stroll through a yard inside Roumieh prison, northeast of Beirut, on April 7, 2006. AFP
Prisoners stroll through a yard inside Roumieh prison, northeast of Beirut, on April 7, 2006. AFP
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Talks Fail on Transfer Mechanism for Syrian Prisoners in Lebanon

Prisoners stroll through a yard inside Roumieh prison, northeast of Beirut, on April 7, 2006. AFP
Prisoners stroll through a yard inside Roumieh prison, northeast of Beirut, on April 7, 2006. AFP

A Lebanese judicial delegation has returned from Damascus empty-handed, failing to secure the breakthrough it sought on a new treaty governing the transfer of Syrian prisoners held in Lebanon.

The talks instead laid bare deep rifts between the two sides, with Syria rejecting most of the proposed text and arguing that it fell short of even the minimum required to ensure the return of its nationals.

No agreement on all points

Even so, the Lebanese delegation sought to play down the gaps. A source close to the team said the atmosphere was positive but that there was no agreement on all points.

The source told Asharq Al-Awsat that Lebanon was cooperating with Damascus on the Syrian detainee file and appreciated Syria’s desire to complete the trials of those held in Lebanon or allow convicts to serve their sentences on Syrian territory.

The source acknowledged that the draft treaty applied only to convicts and did not include those still on trial, since handing over detainees requires a law issued by the Lebanese parliament, which is not currently possible.

Lebanon’s efforts to show flexibility did not receive a similar response in Damascus. Sources familiar with the meeting held in the Syrian capital described the draft agreement as loaded with problematic provisions and said it was unacceptable.

They said the two sides remained locked in disputes over two articles that Damascus viewed as attempts by Lebanon to sidestep understandings reached during talks in Damascus last month.

One article states that the transferring state, Lebanon, may refuse to hand over any convict or detainee without providing justification, based on considerations specific to it.

The sources said this effectively gave Lebanon the right to refuse the transfer of any Syrian prisoner without being required to present legal grounds.

The second, more sensitive, provision for the Syrians concerned what they saw as interference in the powers of Syrian authorities.

The sources said Article 10 of the treaty, which Lebanon intended to model after its agreement with Pakistan, stipulated that Syria, as the receiving state, may not grant amnesty to any convict or detainee handed over by Lebanon.

The agreement with Pakistan does not prohibit Islamabad from granting amnesty to its nationals returned from Lebanon.

The sources said Syria had already discussed all aspects of the agreement during its delegation’s visit to Beirut and had expressed a desire for Lebanon to facilitate the transfer of convicts and detainees under a clear mechanism that respects Lebanese sovereignty and applicable laws.

This mechanism would ban any Syrian who had been detained or convicted in Lebanon from reentering the country, and would allow Lebanese authorities to arrest and prosecute anyone who violates the ban.

Syrian dissatisfaction

Sources who followed Wednesday’s meeting in Damascus said the Syrian side was deeply dissatisfied with what it saw as Lebanese intransigence and a lack of flexibility, particularly since some of the convicts covered by the treaty have spent more than 11 years in Lebanese prisons.

Others remained in pretrial detention for years before their sentences were issued.

Damascus also informed the Lebanese delegation that it would not request the return of anyone proven to have killed Lebanese soldiers or carried out bombings that caused civilian casualties.

Tensions around the file heightened after the Lebanese delegation left Damascus without setting a date for another round of negotiations.

The sources expressed concern that Syria’s rejection of the draft could halt the dialogue altogether and strain bilateral relations.

Damascus has repeatedly said that establishing stable and strong ties requires a final resolution to the Syrian prisoners’ file in Lebanon, especially since most Syrians detained or convicted on terrorism charges had been part of the Syrian uprising, and their arrest and prosecution in Lebanon stemmed from their political choices.

Arab World

Israel Insists on Hamas Disarmament, Rejects Freeze Proposal

Palestinians walk through the rubble amid stormy weather in Gaza City Thursday, Dec. 11, 2025. (AP Photo/Jehad Alshrafi)
Palestinians walk through the rubble amid stormy weather in Gaza City Thursday, Dec. 11, 2025. (AP Photo/Jehad Alshrafi)
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Israel Insists on Hamas Disarmament, Rejects Freeze Proposal

Palestinians walk through the rubble amid stormy weather in Gaza City Thursday, Dec. 11, 2025. (AP Photo/Jehad Alshrafi)
Palestinians walk through the rubble amid stormy weather in Gaza City Thursday, Dec. 11, 2025. (AP Photo/Jehad Alshrafi)

Israel has held firm to demands that Hamas be disarmed as part of President Donald Trump’s ceasefire plan for Gaza, whose first phase began in October. An Israeli official said Tel Aviv has rejected a proposal from the group’s leadership to freeze the use of weapons under a long term truce.

Speaking to Agence France Presse on Thursday, the official said there will be no future for Hamas under the twenty-point plan and the group will be disarmed.

Gaza will be demilitarized, the official added.

The comments came a day after Khaled Meshaal, the head of Hamas’s political bureau abroad, relayed in an interview aired by Al Jazeera on Wednesday that the idea of completely giving up weapons is unacceptable to the resistance.

He said the group had floated the notion of freezing its weapons, adding that the resistance was offering proposals that could guarantee the absence of military escalation from Gaza against Israel.

Israeli Army Radio quoted an official in Tel Aviv on Thursday as saying Israel “remains committed to fully disarming Gaza,” adding that there is ongoing coordination with the United States on this issue.

The ceasefire agreement, which took effect on October 10, stipulates that Hamas and other armed factions in Gaza must be disarmed.

Openness in the Trump administration

A senior Hamas figure believes the Trump administration, which has repeatedly stressed disarmament, “has become more open to ideas being exchanged between Hamas and the mediators on one side and Washington on the other.”

The source told Asharq Al-Awsat that “several ideas were proposed by the movement and developed by the mediators, and other proposals are still being passed around by different parties to help accelerate the transition to the second phase.”

But Hamas’s perceptions seem at odds with recent public statements, most recently from US Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz in his meeting with Israeli President Isaac Herzog on Wednesday. Waltz said Washington would not allow Hamas to rebuild itself.

Sources in the group said contacts with all parties were continuing and that the current talks show greater seriousness to reach understandings on this issue and others.

Hamas appears to be banking on American flexibility that could allow it to retain its weapons or place them in storage under a freeze, or even put them under the custody of an Arab or Islamic party.

One Hamas source said “the mediators are capable of creating broad convergence and understanding with the United States on the weapons issue and other important files such as the deployment of international forces and the governance of the Gaza Strip.”

Meshaal had explained his proposal for freezing, rather than dismantling, the group’s weapons by saying it wants a framework with guarantees that Israel will not return to war against Gaza.

He suggested that weapons can be safeguarded and neither used nor displayed.

Meshaal added that mediators could guarantee that Hamas and other resistance forces in Gaza would prevent any military escalation from the enclave.

A role for the Authority

Israel insists on moving to the second phase of the deal after Hamas hands over the body of the last Israeli hostage in its custody. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said days ago that the transition to the next phase was near, while noting the difficulties surrounding it such as disarming Hamas and Gaza “whether the easy way or the hard way.”

Amid the dispute between Hamas and Israel, the Palestinian Authority has underscored its position that it must assume full responsibilities in Gaza with exclusive authority over security and law.

President Mahmoud Abbas has held talks in recent days with several Arab, Islamic and European leaders, stressing the Authority’s readiness to take over and its commitment to its reform program, which he said would enable it to carry out its duties and prepare for comprehensive elections.

Hamas does not publicly comment on the Authority’s stance, but a senior source in the group told Asharq Al Awsat, “We have no objection to coordinating with the Palestinian Authority and for it to assume its responsibilities in Gaza, but this requires agreement on a comprehensive national program.”

The source added that “another problem is that Israel refuses to allow any role for the Authority in Gaza and we are working with all parties, with help from international pressure on Tel Aviv, so that the Palestinian Authority can eventually govern the strip.”