Lebanese PM Najib Mikati visits Damascus with a high-ranking delegation. Al-Jolani told Syria’s Ahmed al-Sharaa he won’t allow weapons to Lebanon against Israel. Al-Jolani further clarified that he wants to end differences with Israel and is willing to resolve all disputes through dialogue. The two neighboring countries agreed to start a new era of mutual interests, while a new framework was considered for this. Meanwhile, Ahmed Abu Muhammad refused to provide any kind of assistance to Lebanon against Israel and clarified that a joint policy can be formed taking into account future conditions. It was agreed to form joint committees to discuss various issues of interest to both sides, especially the issue of Syrian refugees in Lebanon, who number about one and a half million. According to information, Lebanese security officials (Acting Director General of General Security Major General Elias Al-Bissari, Military Intelligence The Director of the Directorate of Intelligence, Brigadier General Tony Kahwaji, and the Deputy Director of the State Security Service, Brigadier General Hassan Shakir, met with the Head of the Syrian Intelligence Service, Anas Khattab, to review matters of mutual interest. On this occasion, Ahmed Abu Muhammad Sharia al-Julani presented a historical overview of the relations between the two countries. He reiterated that Iran has harmed Syria in our own home and Hezbollah has inflicted great wounds on us.
Syria will no longer be a route for Iranian weapons for Hezbollah. We cannot afford to anger Israel. Despite all this, we are fully prepared to cooperate with all forces. The leadership of both sides discussed the following points: regulating the movement of legal crossings between the two countries, stopping illegal traffic, and preventing smuggling between the borders of the two countries. Lebanon made it clear that it will not allow the smuggling of anything, including weapons, through the border crossings. It should be remembered that during the Assad regime in Syria, during the embargo on Western governments, most of the smuggling of food and other goods used to take place through Lebanon and Turkey, which was also used by anti-Assad armed rebels. Sources said that it has been learned that the new administration in Syria has not yet appointed security personnel to monitor the movement of crossings, while a large number of officers from the former government have been dismissed. The need to be aware of and combat the movements of terrorist groups was discussed. Discussions were held on the transfer of former terrorists allied with the current Syrian administration to Syria, numbering approximately 1,750, who have been convicted of criminal offenses and terrorism. At Lebanon’s request, discussions were held on the implementation of a plan to import electricity from Jordan, secure a gas pipeline from Egypt, and launch an oil pipeline from Iraq through Syria to the Zahrani refinery in southern Lebanon. The demarcation of the land borders between the two countries was discussed.