Lebanese premier, Syrian president hail progress in Damascus talks

Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam said on Saturday that he achieved significant progress on shared issues during his second meeting with Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa in Damascus, where both sides discussed bilateral cooperation and regional developments.

Strengthening bilateral ties

Salam arrived in the Syrian capital for a day-long visit — his second since assuming office last year following the December 2024 fall of the Assad regime. Sharaa received the delegation at the People's Palace in Damascus alongside Syrian ministerial counterparts, state media reported.

Speaking to reporters at Damascus airport before his departure, Salam said tangible results would appear soon in areas including economy, energy, transportation and security. "We made significant progress in addressing shared issues," he said, adding that both countries would establish joint committees and intensify ministerial-level communication to serve common interests.

Security and humanitarian files

The talks addressed the implementation of agreements signed in February to transfer approximately 300 Syrian convicts from Lebanese prisons, with the first batch delivered in March. Official estimates indicate around 2,500 Syrian detainees remain in Lebanese custody, comprising roughly one-third of Lebanon's total prison population, while discussions also covered the fate of missing persons in both countries.

Regarding refugees, Salam said discussions focused on facilitating the safe return of Syrian refugees to their homes and regulating Syrian labor in Lebanon, where approximately 1.5 million Syrians currently reside. Beirut launched a voluntary repatriation program in June 2025, while Sharaa stated in January that most Syrian citizens abroad could return within the next two years.