Syria Receives Hezbollah-Appointed Lebanese Minister in First Since Assad’s Fall

Lebanese Labor Minister Mohammad Haidar, who was appointed by Hezbollah, traveled to Syria on Monday with three fellow ministers for high-level discussions. His reception in Damascus marked the first formal welcome for a Hezbollah official in the Syrian capital since the fall of the Assad regime, which the group had supported.

Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani received the Lebanese delegation after its passage through the Masnaa-Jdeidet Yabous border crossing. The crossing had been closed in April following Israeli allegations that Hezbollah was using the route to move weapons. It was the entry point used by the ministers for Monday’s visit.

The delegation also included Deputy Prime Minister Tarek Mitri, Education Minister Rima Karameh and Social Development Minister Haneen Sayed. According to Syria’s foreign ministry, discussions were to cover Syrian refugees in Lebanon, agreements on trade and security along the border, bringing those issues into the high-level meeting between the two countries.

Haidar’s reception came despite repeated accusations from Damascus that Hezbollah had violated Syrian sovereignty. As recently as September, Syrian authorities alleged that cells belonging to the Iran-backed organization had planned sabotage attacks. Hezbollah’s support for the former Assad government also formed part of the background to the visit.

A Hezbollah representative told L’Orient Today that Syrian authorities had been informed of Haidar’s background before the delegation arrived. Expressing support for closer ties, the representative said: “We support anything that strengthens relations between the two countries.”

Lebanon’s ambassador in Damascus, Henry Kastoun, separately told L’Orient that the agenda did not include a possible resurgence of the Islamic State or the question of former Syrian regime officers who might be in Lebanon. His comments distinguished those subjects from the issues scheduled for discussion.

Although Monday’s reception was the first official visit, Reuters had reported an earlier, secret meeting in Turkey between members of Syria’s new leadership and Hezbollah officials. That account, which cited six sources, was denied by both Syria and Turkey.

In the Reuters account, a Syrian official said Hezbollah’s representatives had offered no direct response to a request to stop arms smuggling and dismantle the group’s cells inside Syria. The official said the representatives had nevertheless pledged that Hezbollah would refrain from interfering in Syrian affairs.