Syria and Lebanon have finally taken a significant step towards resolving one of the most persistent issues between them. The two countries are close to signing an agreement that will see Syrian prisoners currently serving sentences in Lebanese prisons handed over to the Syrian authorities. This will be followed by addressing the cases of Syrians detained or wanted by the Lebanese judiciary—some of whom have been held for over a decade without standing trial. Prisoners convicted in connection with the uprising are now within reach of the freedom their compatriots in Syria regained more than a year ago.
While many files remain unresolved between the two countries, Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa has prioritised this humanitarian issue over any serious discussion of economic and political cooperation. The Lebanese side has likewise shown a willingness to resolve the matter in a manner that upholds its sovereignty and legal framework, an approach that has been met with official understanding from Damascus.
Beyond its humanitarian dimension, the initiative carries political weight as a potential breakthrough in relations between the two states. Ties between Syria and Lebanon have remained strained from the time of independence to the present day, most notably during the era of Syria’s military presence in Lebanon and later, Hezbollah’s military intervention in Syria.
Rare opportunity
There is broad recognition in Syria, Lebanon, and across both the Arab and Western worlds that the two states now face a historic opportunity—one unlikely to come again—to establish balanced and respectful bilateral relations. There is also a shared understanding of the significant challenges that exist within each state and in their mutual relationship. Yet, as officials in both capitals now affirm, there is a sincere political will to confront the failures of the past and to work towards a more promising future for both nations and their peoples, grounded in mutual respect for sovereignty and independence.
