A meeting between Syria and Hezbollah is possible, Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Al Shibani said during a visit to Lebanon on Thursday, days after US President Donald Trump suggested Damascus could take part in efforts to contain the Lebanese militant group.
Mr Al Shibani spoke after meeting Parliamentary Speaker Nabih Berri, an ally of Hezbollah.
Talks with Mr Berri were focused only on Syria-Lebanon relations, but "if the interest requires a meeting with Hezbollah, we are open to it", he said.
Syria's government comprises groups that fought Hezbollah during the country's 2011-2024 civil war, as the Iran-backed group sought to prop up the rule of ousted president Bashar Al Assad.
Syrian President Ahmad Al Shara has sought to calm fears that his nascent military will do as Mr Trump suggested, saying “rumours circulating about Syria entering Lebanon are completely unfounded”, according to Syrian state media.
"His visit had many urgent purposes, but one of the priorities was to discuss what President Trump had suggested about Syrian forces entering Lebanon to confront Hezbollah, and how Al Shara is not taking that path," a Lebanese official told The National.
Syria and Lebanon have sought to open a new page in relations after rebel forces led by Mr Al Shara toppled Mr Al Assad in December 2024.
Mr Al Shibani's visit comes after the Israeli and Lebanese governments agreed to a plan for a future deal last week, which, in theory, should lead to Israel's withdrawal from southern Lebanon and the disarmament of Hezbollah, although its implementation has not begun.
Hezbollah's war with Israel has devastated large parts of southern Lebanon. US-backed efforts have brought a lull in fighting, but have stopped short of ending the conflict.
Mr Al Shibani has also met President Joseph Aoun and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam. Mr Aoun said Mr Al Shara had reassured him several times that "Syria's role will not be like its role in the past and that a new page has been opened," in reference to Syria's extensive history of interference in Lebanese affairs.
He said Mr Al Shibani's visit had calmed fears among some in Lebanon that Syria could intervene again.
Syria is also trying to raise the case of prisoners in Lebanese jails who were arrested on suspicion of, in their own words, supporting the Syrian revolution against the former regime. However, some have also been accused of or convicted of serious charges stemming from clashes with the Lebanese army.
Syria dominated Lebanon for decades during the Assad regime. It sent forces into Lebanon in 1976 during the 1975-1990 civil war and heavily influenced Lebanese politics until withdrawing in 2005.
Mr Al Shibani said Lebanon and Syria had signed an agreement establishing a high-level co-operation committee to strengthen bilateral ties.
"All we bring to Lebanon is love and a commitment to overcoming the painful legacy in relations between the two countries," he said during a press conference.
Mr Al Shibani also met veteran Lebanese politician Walid Jumblatt, who was the first senior Lebanese official to visit Mr Al Shara after he became President. He said a new page in relations must be opened following the fall of the Assad regime.
