CAIRO, March 5, (V7N) — Lebanon's President Joseph Aoun met with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa on the sidelines of an Arab summit in Cairo, where they discussed border security and the ongoing regional tensions between their countries.

The leaders agreed on strengthening measures to contain border incidents, particularly along the 330-kilometer (205-mile) Lebanon-Syria border, where smuggling and militant activity have been persistent challenges. Many sections of the border lack official demarcation, making them prone to illicit trade and cross-border movement of armed groups.

Aoun and Sharaa had previously spoken by phone in February, but Tuesday’s meeting marked their first in-person discussion since Sharaa assumed Syria’s presidency following the December ouster of Bashar al-Assad.

The relationship between Lebanon and Syria has long been complicated by conflicts, political interventions, and Hezbollah’s influence in both nations. However, the removal of Assad’s regime after five decades of rule has opened a new chapter in diplomatic ties between Beirut and Damascus.

Aoun’s January 9 election as Lebanon’s president followed a two-year-long leadership vacuum. His election came after Hezbollah—once Lebanon’s dominant power—suffered major losses in its war against Israel and the subsequent closure of its key supply route through Syria.

Sharaa, backed by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) rebels, has distanced himself from Hezbollah and has accused the militant group of sponsoring cross-border smuggling gangs.

Last month, Syria’s new leadership launched a security campaign in the Homs province, a key smuggling hub along the border. This operation aims to disrupt arms and drug smuggling networks, many of which have links to Hezbollah, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights war monitor.

Hezbollah played a pivotal role in supporting Assad’s forces during Syria’s civil war, which erupted in 2011 following a brutal crackdown on pro-democracy protests. However, with Assad’s ouster, Hezbollah’s influence in Syria has waned, and its activities—including alleged cross-border smuggling and attacks—are being increasingly challenged by Sharaa’s administration.

Aoun and Sharaa’s border control agreement signals a new phase in Syria-Lebanon relations, one that could reshape regional alliances and diminish Hezbollah’s hold over Lebanon’s security and governance. The implementation of this agreement will be crucial in determining whether the two nations can achieve lasting stability or if tensions will resurface in the volatile border region.

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