Relations between Syria and Lebanon have long been shaped by intertwined and highly sensitive issues. Since the Syrian uprising in 2011, these files – especially those related to detainees, borders, and security – have grown more complicated. More than a year after the collapse of Bashar al-Assad’s regime, most of these issues remain unresolved, amid differing approaches between Damascus and Beirut on how to address them in a way that preserves sovereignty, legal rights, and human rights standards.
The Syrian Detainees File
Following the fall of Assad’s regime in early December 2024, the issue of Syrian detainees held in Lebanese prisons resurfaced prominently. Since then, the Syrian transitional government and Lebanese authorities have exchanged visits and held multiple meetings in an attempt to resolve the file. Despite repeated statements suggesting an imminent breakthrough and international calls to close the issue, no final agreement has been reached.
Last week, Asharq Al-Awsat quoted Lebanese sources saying that a visit by a Lebanese judicial delegation to Damascus failed to produce tangible results toward a new judicial treaty regulating the transfer of Syrian detainees from Lebanon. The sources noted significant differences in how both sides approached the proposed agreement, with Damascus rejecting most of its provisions for failing to meet its minimum demands regarding the repatriation of Syrian prisoners.
According to the sources, Lebanon has shown cooperation and understands Syria’s desire to complete trials or enforce sentences on its own territory. However, the proposed agreement applied only to convicted prisoners and excluded detainees still on trial, as transferring the latter would require legislation from the Lebanese parliament; currently not feasible.
A Syrian source described the draft agreement as “booby-trapped,” revealing deep disputes over two key clauses. The first would allow the transferring state (Lebanon) to refuse handing over any detainee or convict without justification – something Damascus viewed as granting Lebanon unchecked authority to block transfers. The second clause, particularly Article 10, would prevent Syria from granting amnesty to detainees transferred from Lebanon, a condition Syrians saw as interference in sovereign judicial powers.
Read also: France Reasserts Its Middle East Role: Le Drian’s High-Stakes Mission in Lebanon
Files Tied to Political Relations
Political writer and analyst Michel Al-Shammai, based in Beirut, told +963 that the future of unresolved files depends largely on the political relationship between the Syrian and Lebanese governments.
“There can be no unofficial channels between Syria and Lebanese factions,” he said, adding that he believes these files will gradually be resolved once state institutions in both countries are fully reconstituted.
Al-Shammai stressed that while files can be addressed individually, a comprehensive bilateral agreement would significantly accelerate final solutions. He also noted that the detainees and missing persons files – particularly those dating back to the Assad era – cannot remain open indefinitely.
He added that the United States could play a role in resolving outstanding issues, given its growing influence following recent geopolitical shifts in the Middle East.
Another pressing issue is the presence of former Syrian regime officers who fled to Lebanon. Al-Shammai echoed these concerns, calling for the handover of former regime officers to Syria, noting their alleged involvement in crimes against Syrians and Lebanese figures such as Rafik Hariri, Gebran Tueni, and Antoine Ghanem.
Read also: Netanyahu Under Pressure: Israel’s Far Right and the Syria-Lebanon Security Gambit
Toward a New Diplomatic Chapter
In August, Lebanese Interior Minister Ahmad Al-Hajjar stated that Syrians account for roughly 30% of Lebanon’s prison population; around 2,400 detainees. He emphasized that Beirut does not view Syria as a threat and that coordination between the two countries continues.
In early November, Lebanese security sources reported preventing Syrian troops from positioning themselves on a disputed hill near Arsal, underscoring the sensitivity of border issues.
Last week, Syrian interim president Ahmad Al-Sharaa received the credentials of Lebanon’s ambassador to Damascus, Henri Castoun, in a move described by the Syrian presidency as an effort to correct relations and open a new diplomatic chapter between the two neighbours.
