At the end of 2024, there were major political changes in Lebanon and Syria. The regime of Bashar al-Assad collapsed in Damascus, while Israeli attacks against Hezbollah in Lebanon led to a fundamental shift in the balance of forces in Beirut, giving rise to new leaderships with different political directions. What is notable is that the current presidents in both countries, Ahmad al-Sharaa in Syria and Joseph Aoun in Lebanon, were until recently military commanders on opposing sides of conflicts in which many lives were lost. Today, both stand as symbols of change, having overturned dominant political powers in their respective countries. Their leadership also marks a clear departure from Iranian influence in Lebanon and Syria, signaling new alignments with the United States and Saudi Arabia. Still, a legitimate question is whether previous tensions separating Sharaa and Aoun will now affect ties between the countries? Or can the two men build a solid relationship between the two neighbors, perhaps for the first time Lebanon’s and Syria’s history?
Beirut and Damascus Remain Divided | Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
