BEIRUT — A prominent Lebanese politician held talks on Sunday with the insurgent leader who led the overthrow of Syrian president Bashar Assad, expressing hope for a new era in relations between their countries. Walid Jumblatt, a long-time critic of Syrian interference in Lebanon and blaming the late Hafez Assad, father of Bashar, for the assassination of his own father decades ago, is the most prominent Lebanese politician to visit Syria since the end of the Assad family’s 54-year rule.
Jumblatt engaged in talks with Ahmad al-Sharaa, formerly known as Abu Mohammed al-Golani, who led Sunni Islamist rebels that stormed Damascus earlier this month, toppling Assad. Jumblatt offered his congratulations, saying, “We salute the Syrian people for their great victories and you for your battle to end the oppression and tyranny that lasted over 50 years.” He also expressed hopes for the normalization of Lebanese-Syrian relations.
Jumblatt’s father, Kamal, was killed in 1977 during an ambush near a Syrian checkpoint during Syria’s military intervention in Lebanon’s civil war. While the younger Jumblatt was critical of the Assad regime, he briefly allied with them to secure influence within Lebanon’s ever-shifting political alliances. “Syria was a source of concern and disturbance, and its interference in Lebanese affairs was negative,” said al-Sharaa, referring to Assad’s government. “Syria will no longer be a case of negative interference in Lebanon,” he promised, vowing to respect Lebanon’s sovereignty.
Separately, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei commented that Syria’s youth would resist the new government formed after Assad’s overthrow, once again accusing the United States and Israel of causing chaos in the country. Iran had played a crucial role in supporting Assad during the nearly 14-year-long civil war, which began after his brutal crackdown on a popular uprising. Syria had long been a key conduit for Iranian aid to the Lebanese political-military group, Hezbollah.
In a Sunday speech, Khamenei said that “the youth of Syria have nothing to lose” and that they were already victims of insecurity after Assad’s fall. “What can they do? They must remain determined against those who designed and implemented this insecurity,” he added. He expressed hope that they would eventually overcome these challenges.
Khamenei also accused the United States and Israel of conspiring to seize Syria’s resources. “Now they feel victorious, the Americans, the Zionist regime, and their allies,” Khamenei declared.
Iran and the groups it aligns with in the region have faced significant setbacks in the past year, with Israel fighting Hamas in Gaza and delivering harsh blows to Hezbollah before agreeing to a ceasefire in Lebanon last month. Khamenei denied that these groups represent Iran, stating that they fight for their own beliefs and that Iran does not rely on them. “If we plan to take action one day, we don’t need a representative force,” he asserted.
These developments are part of a broader reshaping of power in the region, as Syria and Lebanon’s intertwined history continues to evolve. The future of relations between the countries will remain uncertain, especially given the shifting political dynamics and the regional influence of powers like Iran.
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