Lebanon-Syria Relations - Contemporary Relations

Contemporary Relations

The 2005 assassination of Rafic Hariri and 21 others led to suspicions that the Syrian government played a role with his death because of Hariri’s opposition to Syrian intervention in Lebanese politics. As Prime Minister of Lebanon, Hariri pursued reconstruction of Lebanon following the aftermath of the Lebanese Civil War. In 1998 he resigned but returned in 2000, expanding the tourism industry. His reconstruction efforts gained international praise for rebuilding Beirut and the country. However, he also gained his critics for government corruption and increasing the country’s debt. In 2004, his resignation was attributed to his protest of Syrian intervention in Lebanese politics. At any rate, in 2005, his assassination led to mass protests for Syrian withdrawal of troops from Lebanon. The Syrian government denied any involvement of Syrian leaders in Hariri’s death but scheduled final withdrawal by April 30, 2005. In 2007, the United Nations Security Council established the Hariri tribunal to investigate the deaths of Hariri and 21 others. At first, the tribunal incriminated several Syrian security officials. However, investigations later pointed to Hezbollah members. Like the Syrian government, Hezbollah denies any involvement in the deaths of Hariri and others. They instead blame the assassination on an Israeli plot, even providing evidence. There are concerns that revealing the truth of who assassinated Hariri might lead to regional instability.

Tensions between Lebanon and Syria were reflected even in pop culture; when Lebanese singer Fairuz sang in Syria’s capital Damascus, several Lebanese politicians and citizens criticized her decision. Fairuz responded that Damascus was a cultural center that “will remain a role model of art, culture and authenticity for the coming generations”.

At a meeting in Paris during the first Summit of the Union for the Mediterranean, the new President of Lebanon, Michel Sleiman, and Syria's President, Bashar al-Assad, agreed to establish diplomatic relations and to open a new page in the relations between the two countries. On August 13, 2008, the diplomatic relations were established between the two countries. In December 2008, the Syrian Embassy was opened in Beirut for the first time since both countries gained their independence during the 1940s. In March 2009, Lebanon opened its embassy in Damascus. On 19 December 2009, Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Al-Hariri visited Syria, and stayed in Damascus for 3 days of meetings with President Bashar Al-Assad.

During fighting in Syria against the al-Assad government, clashes spilled into Tripoli, Lebanon in February 2012. Pro-Syrian forces fought against opposition to the al-Assad presidency in the Bab al-Tabbaneh, Jabal Mohsen clashes, leading to the deaths of three people and more injuries. Tripoli has a majority Sunni Muslim population but also secular pro-Assad Alawites. One Sunni cleric alleged that the Syrian president sent forces into Tripoli to introduce unrest within the region. March 2012 discussions on the national level include concerns that toppling the al-Assad regime would result in regional instability for Lebanon and Iraq. There are already an estimated 20,000 Syrian refugees in Lebanon while Syria demands Lebanese search for Free Syria Army members hiding along the border. The influx of Syrian refugees has increased local tensions between sects in Lebanon. In November 2011, the Syrian army had installed landmines along the border to prevent people from fleeing into Lebanon. Gulf states have offered Syrian rebels $100 million to pay salaries and the United States is providing communications equipment. The rebellions and Syrian government response have killed thousands of Syrians.