The Syrian News Agency, “SANA”, quoted a source in the Syrian Ministry of Defense, that members of the Lebanese Hezbollah fired several artillery shells from Lebanese territory towards the points of the Syrian Arab Army in the Qusayr region, west of Homs. The attack resulted in new tensions on the border between the two countries, which necessitated a quick reaction by the Syrian army. Where the Syrian army forces, immediately, targeted the sources of fire after monitoring the launch sites of the 5 shells.
Coordination with the Lebanese Army: Stop the responses at his request
The source pointed out that the Syrian army contacted the Lebanese army to assess the situation, and in a calm step, targeting of fire sources inside Lebanese territory was stopped at the request of the Lebanese army. Where the latter sponsored the pursuit of armed groups that fired shells on Syrian soil. This coordination came at a sensitive time days after the visit of the Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam to Damascus, which was aimed at opening a new page in relations between the two countries, based on mutual respect and good neighborhood.
Visit Nawaf Salam: Puscent towards stability of relationships
The visit by the Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam to Damascus came after a period of stalemate in relations between the two countries. On this visit, Salam met with Syrian President Ahmed Al -Shara, as the two parties dealt with many security and political issues, including border control and smuggling prevention. Salam hoped that the visit would contribute to rebuilding confidence between the two governments and providing solutions to the problems that disturb relations, such as border issues and security cooperation.
Security challenges on the Lebanese-Syrian border
The border between Lebanon and Syria, which extends over 330 km, represents a point of constant tension, especially due to the illegal crossings that are often used to smuggle individuals, goods and weapons. Last month, the border area witnessed tensions that resulted in deaths from both sides. These developments come at a sensitive time as the two countries seek to enhance security cooperation to maintain the stability of the region.
The importance of security coordination: strengthening cooperation between the Syrian and Lebanese armies
In the context of strengthening security on the border, the two parties stressed the need to increase coordination between the Syrian and Lebanese armies to control security and prevent similar escalation. It was also agreed to form a joint ministerial committee to follow up on important security issues, including smuggling and border demarcation.
Conclusion: Will these developments improve relationships?
While military tensions increase on the border, the question remains about whether these events will positively affect the relations between Lebanon and Syria, or that they will complicate things more. Time alone will determine whether the visit of Nawaf Salam will contribute to laying new foundations for cooperation between the two countries or that continuous tensions will continue to constitute a major obstacle to improving relationships.
