Lead:

Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani paid an official visit to Beirut on Wednesday, meeting Lebanon's three presidents — President of the Republic Joseph Aoun, Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam — in the most significant high-level diplomatic exchange between the two countries since Syria's political transition. The visit culminated in Lebanon's Council of Ministers approving a framework agreement to establish a Lebanese-Syrian Supreme Joint Committee, marking a formal reset of bilateral relations.

Details:

According to Al-Akhbar and Al-Diyar, al-Shaibani met President Aoun at Baabda Palace, where Aoun affirmed Lebanon's commitment to building brotherly relations with Syria on a state-to-state basis. Aoun described the visit as dispelling fears among some Lebanese that Damascus harbored intentions to interfere in Lebanese internal affairs, characterizing negotiations with neighboring states as a form of "diplomatic warfare." The Council of Ministers, meeting at the Grand Serail, placed the Syria agreement as the first item on its agenda, approving the creation of the Supreme Joint Committee encompassing relevant ministers from both sides, alongside a Lebanese-Syrian business council.

Al-Diyar reports that al-Shaibani arrived carrying a Syrian initiative centered on supporting the Lebanese state in implementing the Taif Agreement and consolidating weapons under state authority. Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, according to Al-Diyar and Newsd, announced the agreement on the joint committee and business council while clarifying his preference to avoid the term "agreement" for the framework deal, noting it could open legal complications. Salam also stated there would be no confrontation with Hezbollah, framing the government's approach as institutional and measured.

Following his meeting with Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri at Ain el-Tineh, al-Shaibani told reporters, as cited by Al-Akhbar and Al-Diyar, that discussions focused on developing Lebanese-Syrian relations and that the Hezbollah file was not formally raised. He added, however, that Damascus remains open to meeting with Hezbollah representatives should national interest require it. Al-Diyar also reported that Grand Mufti Abdel Latif Derian received al-Shaibani at Dar al-Fatwa, where Islamic affairs and Lebanese-Syrian relations were discussed.

Separately, Army Commander General Rudolf Heikal received British Deputy National Security Adviser for International Affairs Barbara Woodward and the Pakistani ambassador at his office in Yarze, according to Al-Diyar and Lebanon Files, discussing support for the Lebanese Armed Forces and implementation of the framework agreement governing the Israeli withdrawal process.

Watch For:

Whether the newly approved Lebanese-Syrian Supreme Joint Committee convenes promptly and produces measurable outcomes, or stalls amid political disagreements over the weapons file and Hezbollah's role.

The trajectory of Israeli withdrawal from remaining occupied Lebanese territories, particularly following U.S. Vice President JD Vance's statement that Lebanon and Israel are now engaged in direct dialogue at an unprecedented level.

Whether Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi's anticipated visit to Beirut materializes, after informed sources told Al-Diyar that no official date has been communicated to Lebanese authorities and reports of cancellation remain unconfirmed.