President Joseph Aoun in a meeting with the American delegation at the Baabda Palace, on May 26, 2025. (Credit: X/@lebanesepresidency)
From Baabda Palace, President Joseph Aoun stated Monday during a visit by a delegation of U.S. senators that aid intended for displaced Syrians should be sent to Syria and not distributed in Lebanon.
According to a post on X by the Lebanese presidency, Aoun told the delegation led by independent U.S. Senator Angus King, in the presence of U.S. Ambassador Lisa Johnson, that "lifting U.S. sanctions against Syria is a good decision, as the improvement of the Syrian economy would contribute to solving the Syrian displaced persons crisis in Lebanon."
"The latter must return to their country to participate in its economic revival. The United Nations should provide aid to the displaced in Syria, not in Lebanon," added Aoun.
According to official estimates, Lebanon currently hosts 1.5 million Syrians, including 755,426 refugees registered with the United Nations, who fled the civil war in their country, which began in 2011. The U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees and other NGOs provide various services to these refugees, which some political groups perceive as an "incentive" to remain in Lebanon.
On May 13, U.S. President Donald Trump announced from Saudi Arabia that the United States would lift long-standing sanctions imposed on Damascus. He stated that these sanctions had served an "important function," but it was now time for the country "to move forward." The United States designated Syria as a state sponsor of terrorism in 1979, added sanctions in 2004, and imposed new measures after the outbreak of the civil war in 2011.
The disarmament of Palestinian camps
Aoun also said that "Lebanese-Palestinian committees have been set up and will start work from mid-June in three Palestinian camps in Beirut to address the issue of weapons inside these camps."
This mechanism was established Friday for the removal of weapons in Palestinian camps, which will be carried out gradually. The first phase will begin in mid-June in Beirut's camps: Burj al-Barajneh, Shatila and Mar Elias. The camps in the Bekaa and the North (Jalil and Beddawi) will follow at the beginning of July. Then, the third phase will occur in other camps in the South. All will be done based on an agreement between Lebanese authorities and Palestinian factions.