Lebanon PM announces first visit to Syria since Assad's ouster

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This handout picture provided by the Lebanese Prime Minister's press office shows Lebanon's caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati delivering a statement to the press in Beirut on October 2024.

Lebanon's Prime Minister Ziad Makary will visit Damascus "soon", the information minister announced Tuesday, in the first such visit by the country's leadership since Islamist-led rebels seized power in Syria last month.

Lebanon's prime minister is to visit Damascus "soon", the information minister said on Tuesday -- the first such visit since Islamist-led rebels seized power in Syria last month.

"There will be a visit to Syria soon, headed by Prime Minister (Najib) Mikati," Ziad Makary told reporters after a cabinet meeting.

Last week, Syria imposed new restrictions on the entry of Lebanese citizens, two security sources from Lebanon told AFP, following what the Lebanese army said was a border skirmish with armed Syrians.

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Lebanese nationals had previously been allowed into Syria without a visa, using just their passport or ID card.

Interior Minister Bassam Mawlawi told AFP at the time that Lebanon was working to find a solution with Syria.

The Lebanese army said the border skirmish saw its soldiers clash with armed Syrians after they tried to "close an illegal crossing". It said five soldiers were wounded.

Lebanon's eastern border is porous and known for smuggling. It was unclear who the armed Syrians were.

He also said Sharaa had invited him for an official visit.

For three decades, Syria was the dominant power in Lebanon after intervening in its 1975-1990 civil war.


Read more on FRANCE 24 English

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Lebanon's army says it prevented 1,200 Syrian migrants from crossing border
Several people killed during factional fighting in Palestinian refugee camp in Lebanon

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