The Lebanon-Syria border has become a flashpoint of tension, with recent developments exacerbating decades-long mistrust between the two nations. The fall of Bashar Assad’s regime in Syria, toppled by Islamist insurgents, and a bruising war in Lebanon with Israel that weakened Hezbollah have reshaped the regional landscape, yet relations between Beirut and Damascus remain strained.

The collapse of the 54-year Assad family rule marked a seismic shift, but Syria’s historical failure to recognize Lebanon’s sovereignty continues to cast a shadow. Recent border skirmishes, including a March incident where Syrian authorities accused Hezbollah of kidnapping and killing three soldiers, have claimed lives, including a four-year-old Lebanese girl. Lebanon denies Hezbollah’s involvement, attributing the clash to smugglers.

Historical grievances fuel the divide. Many Syrians resent Hezbollah’s support for Assad during Syria’s civil war, while Lebanese fear cross-border attacks by Syria’s new Islamist-led government. Syria’s 1976–2005 occupation of Lebanon, marked by oppressive tactics, deepened distrust. The 2005 assassination of Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri, widely blamed on Damascus, led to Syria’s withdrawal under global pressure, but ties remained cold.

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Current disputes include Lebanon’s detention of approximately 2,000 Syrians, with Damascus demanding their transfer, a request Beirut resists. Lebanon’s call for the return of over 716,000 registered Syrian refugees, plus unregistered others, clashes with Syria’s demand for billions in frozen bank deposits. Syria’s appointment of a defected Lebanese officer, Abdullah Shehadeh, as Homs’ security head further angered Beirut.

Efforts at reconciliation, such as a Saudi-mediated border demarcation agreement in March, have yielded limited results. Lebanon’s restrictions on Syrian entry and Syria’s retaliatory measures against Lebanese citizens underscore ongoing friction. Analysts like Radwan Ziadeh advocate addressing issues individually to reduce tensions gradually, dismissing claims by some Syrian figures that Lebanon should be part of Syria as non-representative.

As both nations navigate these challenges, a U.S.-backed plan for border demarcation offers hope, but the path to normalized relations remains fraught with mistrust and unresolved grievances.

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