Syria, Lebanon sign deal for future border demarcation in Jeddah

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Al Mayadeen English
28 Mar 2025 15:29

Syria and Lebanon's defense ministers have convened in Jeddah to discuss security issues, particularly the situation at the border.

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Lebanese Defense Minister Michel Menassa and his Syrian counterpart Murhaf Abu Qasra in Jeddah, KSA, March 28, 2025 (Social media)

After talks that began last night in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, Lebanese Defense Minister Michel Menassa and his Syrian counterpart Murhaf Abu Qasra signed an agreement to demarcate the border between the two countries.

During the meeting, both sides agreed to form specialized legal committees in various fields and enhance coordination mechanisms to address security and military challenges, particularly those that may arise along the border. They also agreed to hold a follow-up meeting in Saudi Arabia in the near future.

In a statement on Friday, Saudi Arabia affirmed its full support for any initiative that ensures the security and stability of both neighboring countries, contributing to broader regional stability* according to the official Saudi Press Agency (SPA).

Saudi Defense Minister Khalid bin Salman welcomed the signing of what he described as a "significant agreement."

The Lebanese defense minister and his accompanying security delegation visited Saudi Arabia, where a meeting was held in Jeddah with the Syrian interim defense minister and his security delegation, under the sponsorship of the Saudi defense minister.

Following the delay

This comes after Menassa and his accompanying delegation's visit to Syria was postponed at Syria's request, sources revealed to Al Mayadeen on Wednesday.

A Lebanese official had told AFP on Monday that Menassa would visit Syria on Wednesday to discuss recent tensions along the border between the two countries.

"The defense minister will head a security delegation to Damascus to meet with his counterpart, Marhaf Abu Qasra," the official said.

The aim of the visit was to "discuss ways to manage the situation at the border, strengthen bilateral coordination and prevent cross-border aggression," the official added.

Meanwhile, the United Nations refugee agency reported that over 21,000 people have fled sectarian violence in Syria this month, seeking refuge in neighboring Lebanon.

The surge in displacement follows days of intense violence in the coastal regionstarting on March 6, during which hundreds of Alawite civilians were killed in what observers have described as sectarian assaults and "field executions".