Syria’s foreign minister begins Beirut talks with Lebanese officials amid rising concern over Hezbollah

Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan al-Shaibani began a diplomatic trip to Lebanon on Thursday, holding meetings with top Lebanese officials as tensions surrounding Hezbollah’s role in Lebanese politics and security continue to draw regional scrutiny. The visit was described as part of Syria’s effort to keep relations with its unstable neighbor “comfortable,” even as Hezbollah remains a central factor in Lebanon’s domestic stability and in foreign policy calculations across the Middle East.

According to The Washington Times, al-Shaibani’s tour started on Thursday and is expected to include additional consultations as both governments navigate a delicate posture shaped by years of conflict and strained ties. The same report said the diplomacy comes amid mounting concern over Hezbollah and the political-security environment in Lebanon.

Kurdistan24 reported that al-Shaibani met Lebanon’s President Joseph Aoun and then held talks with Nabih Berri, Lebanon’s parliament speaker and described as a veteran Hezbollah ally. The outlet said the meeting with Berri was the first between Syria’s top diplomat and the longtime Lebanese politician since Syria’s political transition following the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s government in December 2024.

Kurdistan24 also said Syria has reiterated that it has no intention of intervening militarily in Lebanon, despite repeated calls from U.S. President Donald Trump suggesting Damascus could play a role in confronting Hezbollah. In that account, al-Shaibani’s trip is portrayed as a continuation of Lebanon-Syria diplomatic engagement that has resumed at a faster pace since Damascus’ leadership change, with the foreign minister’s previous visit to Lebanon occurring in October 2025.

The diplomatic outreach follows broader instability pressures in Lebanon, including the ongoing social and economic effects of the Syrian conflict on Lebanese society. The Council on Foreign Relations has noted that Lebanon continues to host large refugee populations from Syria, a strain that deepens Lebanon’s vulnerability to regional shocks and complicates consensus politics.

Officials in Beirut and Damascus have indicated in recent months that they are seeking to rebuild channels after years of fractured cooperation. The Washington Times and Kurdistan24 both framed al-Shaibani’s visit as a practical effort to manage immediate frictions and prevent disputes from escalating, even as international attention remains focused on Hezbollah’s future role and the cross-border security landscape.

For Washington and other governments, the Lebanon file also intersects with parallel diplomatic efforts involving Hezbollah and Israel, including efforts at deconfliction and political messaging aimed at reducing the risk of wider conflict along the Israel-Lebanon frontier. Against that background, Syria’s insistence on limiting its role to diplomacy, and its engagement with Hezbollah-aligned Lebanese officials through parliamentary and presidential meetings, are likely to remain central to how regional actors interpret the visit.

If the meetings produce outcomes beyond general statements, they are expected to be reflected in follow-on calls between senior officials and in subsequent public messaging on Lebanon-Syria cooperation. As of Thursday, the announced focus remained on official consultation and maintaining bilateral ties despite heightened concerns about Hezbollah-related tensions.