Lebanese Security Forces Launch Operation to Detain Assad-era Officials
Lebanese security forces have begun a large-scale operation to ensure that senior figures and officers of Syria’s former regime are not present on Lebanese soil, aiming to prevent the country from becoming a platform for threats against Syria’s security and stability. The case is being overseen directly by Tarek Mitri, Lebanon’s Deputy Prime Minister, who is responsible for managing Lebanon–Syria relations. Mitri seeks to reassure Damascus of Beirut’s respect for its neighbor’s sovereignty and stability through security and political measures.
At the same time, Khaled al-Ahmad, advisor to Syria’s transitional president, arrived in Beirut to meet with Tarek Mitri. According to informed sources, the purpose of this meeting is to resolve outstanding issues, including the status of detainees and convicts, and to strengthen bilateral cooperation. Finding solutions for unresolved cases—particularly those involving Syrian detainees and convicts and Damascus’s request for their extradition—is on the agenda.
In this context, Lebanese parliamentary and security sources strongly denied social media reports claiming the presence of Brigadier General Suhail al-Hassan or the establishment of military bases by former Syrian regime forces in the Akkar region, describing them as exaggerated and false. Lebanese security authorities also stated that many of the officers in question, including deputies of Maher al-Assad, are currently residing in Moscow, while others are wanted by Interpol for crimes against civilians. Strict orders have reportedly been issued to Lebanese security agencies to prevent any activities by former Syrian regime forces in Lebanon that could threaten Syria’s security.
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