Salam meets al-Sharaa in Syria to address missing persons issue

Prime Minister Nawaf Salam led a Lebanese delegation to Damascus on Monday for a high-stakes meeting with Syria’s interim president Ahmad al-Sharaa. Accompanying Salam were key Lebanese ministers, including those responsible for foreign affairs, defense, and the interior. Syrian Defense Minister Asaad al-Shaibani also attended the discussions.

This high-profile visit—Salam’s first since taking office—is viewed as pivotal in redefining Lebanon-Syria ties, which have been historically strained. The talks are taking place at a delicate moment as both countries navigate the aftermath of regime change in Syria following the ouster of Bashar al-Assad by an Islamist-led coalition.

Agenda: Border Control, Refugees, and Historical Tensions

According to government insiders, the primary topics on the table include cooperation on border security, particularly addressing smuggling routes and demarcating the 330-kilometer border. The fate of Lebanese citizens who vanished in Syrian prisons during Assad’s reign was also expected to be a major talking point. Additionally, the delegation will raise the issue of returning displaced Syrians currently residing in Lebanon—an estimated 1.5 million people, though only about half are officially registered with the UN refugee agency.

The Lebanese side reportedly plans to propose the formation of joint committees to tackle key issues: dissolving the long-standing Syrian-Lebanese Higher Council, revisiting bilateral agreements, and easing cross-border trade logistics, including the transit of Lebanese exports to Arab countries. These efforts aim to reset relations based on mutual respect and sovereignty—principles emphasized by Lebanese officials who described the visit as a turning point in bilateral diplomacy.

Security Cooperation and Historical Accountability

Last month, Lebanon and Syria signed a new security agreement during a visit to Saudi Arabia, following deadly clashes along the border. As part of that framework, Lebanon now seeks Damascus’s help in forming a commission to investigate a series of political assassinations widely attributed to the Assad regime during its decades of influence in Lebanon.

In statements ahead of the trip, Salam underscored the importance of addressing the legacy of past abuses, particularly the unresolved cases of Lebanese citizens who were imprisoned or went missing under the former Syrian leadership. Meanwhile, Syria’s interim leadership has pledged to refrain from interfering in Lebanon’s internal affairs and to honor its sovereignty moving forward.