On Friday, Lebanon’s Cabinet agreed to an accord to send Syrian inmates who are serving their sentences in Lebanon back to their own country. The release of prisoners has been a sensitive matter as the two countries try to improve their ties since Islamist-led rebels quickly overthrew former Syrian President Bashar Assad in December 2024. Ahmad Al-Sharaa, who used to be a leader of the insurgents, is now the provisional president of Syria.
Lebanon and Syria have a long and convoluted history, with problems on both sides. Many Lebanese are angry because Syrian troops occupied their country for decades, until 2005. A lot of Syrians are angry at Hezbollah’s involvement in the civil war in Syria, where they fought to protect Assad’s government.
The status of roughly 2,000 Syrians in Lebanese prisons, many of whom are being held without trial for attacks and shootings, has been a major barrier to improving relations. Damascus wanted Beirut to send them back to Syria to finish their prison terms, but Lebanese judges declared that Beirut would not release any assailants and that each case must be looked at and addressed independently.
The accord that was approved on Friday seemed to put an end to that strain. Paul Morcos, the Lebanese Information Minister, noted that there are still problems that need to be worked out between the two nations. These include the fate of Lebanese people who are thought to have gone missing in Syrian prisons under Assad’s administration and the border between the two countries.
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