Syria denies military intervention plans in Lebanon

Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa on Saturday firmly rejected reports suggesting Damascus intends to launch a military intervention in neighboring Lebanon, describing such speculation as baseless amid heightened regional tensions.

Intervention reports dismissed

Speaking to a delegation from the Damascus countryside, Sharaa addressed recent media speculation regarding potential cross-border troop movements. "What is being circulated about Syria entering Lebanon is completely untrue," he told the official SANA news agency, labeling the reports as unfounded rumors.

Border demarcation shelved

The president also downplayed suggestions that his government would prioritize resolving long-standing boundary disputes with Beirut in the near future. "This is not a priority at the present time, especially in light of the crises in Lebanon and internal displacement of around 1.5 million people," Sharaa said regarding the 375-kilometer frontier.

Lebanon has faced sustained Israeli military operations since early March, with the offensive killing more than 3,700 people and injuring over 11,600 others. The violence has driven approximately 1.5 million people from their homes, creating a humanitarian crisis along the frontier that links the two countries through six land crossings. The border has remained largely unmarked since both nations gained independence from France in 1946, consisting of mountains, valleys and plains with no clear dividing line.