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High-Level Meeting Between Lebanon and the United States to Discuss Tensions on the Border with Syria
Lebanese President General Joseph Aoun held a meeting with U.S. Deputy Special Envoy to the Middle East, Morgan Ortagus, in Beirut, addressing several important issues, most notably the situation in southern Lebanon, the Lebanese-Syrian border, in addition to financial and economic reforms aimed at combating corruption.
The recent meeting between President Aoun and Ortagus is part of a series of discussions aimed at exchanging views on current regional and international challenges. During the meeting, both sides reaffirmed the importance of enhancing bilateral cooperation in the upcoming phase, as reported by the Lebanese presidency via the "X" platform.
In a related context, the Lebanese army recently announced the closure of several illegal crossings on the border with Syria as part of its efforts to combat infiltration and smuggling across the northern and eastern borders.
These steps come after an agreement reached between the governments of Syria and Lebanon, which includes a ceasefire in the border area following violent clashes between the Syrian army and Hezbollah.
Violent clashes erupted in the countryside of the Qusayr region near the border, following an ambush executed by Hezbollah near the Zita Dam west of Homs, resulting in the abduction of three members of the Syrian army who were taken into Lebanese territory before being executed on the spot.
