Syria's Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani Expresses Openness to Meet Hezbollah Leaders
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- Shaibani, who also invited President Joseph Aoun to Syria, is visiting Beirut, where he met parliament speaker Nabih Berri, a Hezbollah ally, for the first time.
- Syrian foreign minister says Syria open to meeting Hezbollah, Lebanese state media reports
- Shibani said the "Hezbollah file" was not raised during his meetings, but that Syria was open to meeting the group, NNA cited him as saying.
Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani's recent visit to Lebanon has opened a cautious channel for dialogue with Hezbollah, as he expressed Syria's willingness to meet with the Iran-backed group if interests require it.
This visit, which included meetings with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, marks a significant diplomatic engagement for Syria, especially following US President Donald Trump's suggestion that Syria should confront Hezbollah.
Al-Shaibani emphasized that the 'Hezbollah file' was not a topic of discussion during his meetings, indicating a careful approach to the sensitive relationship. Despite ongoing US pressure to act against Hezbollah, Syria has ruled out any military intervention in Lebanon, focusing instead on rebuilding diplomatic ties with Beirut.
This shift in Syria's stance reflects its desire to navigate the complex geopolitical landscape while avoiding escalation. The meeting with Berri, a known ally of Hezbollah, signals a potential thaw in relations between the two parties, which have been strained in recent years.
As the situation evolves, the implications of Syria's diplomatic maneuvers will be closely watched by regional observers.
Left- and right-leaning outlets are covering this story differently — in which facts to emphasize, which context to include, and how to frame causes and consequences.