The new Syrian flag raised on the Syrian embassy's building in Baabda in January 2025. (Credit: SANA)
More than a year after the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime, Syria is moving to restore order at its embassy in Beirut.Appointed as chargé d’affaires to head Syria’s diplomatic mission in Lebanon, Iyad al-Hazaa arrived in Beirut on Thursday. Seen as an influential figure within the authorities in Damascus, he met with Deputy Prime Minister Tarek Mitri, who oversees bilateral relations, and with Foreign Minister Joe Rajji.The appointment comes as the two countries seek to rebuild stronger bilateral relations after decades marked by mistrust, hegemonic ambitions and interference. Zooming out Between pride and prejudice: Lebanon and Syria’s struggle to reconcile Those grievances, however, remain at times difficult to overcome.Hazaa’s appointment allows Syria to fill a diplomatic vacuum that has persisted since December 2024 and began...
More than a year after the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime, Syria is moving to restore order at its embassy in Beirut.Appointed as chargé d’affaires to head Syria’s diplomatic mission in Lebanon, Iyad al-Hazaa arrived in Beirut on Thursday. Seen as an influential figure within the authorities in Damascus, he met with Deputy Prime Minister Tarek Mitri, who oversees bilateral relations, and with Foreign Minister Joe Rajji.The appointment comes as the two countries seek to rebuild stronger bilateral relations after decades marked by mistrust, hegemonic ambitions and interference. Zooming out Between pride and prejudice: Lebanon and Syria’s struggle to reconcile Those grievances, however, remain at times difficult to overcome.Hazaa’s appointment allows Syria to fill a diplomatic vacuum that has persisted since December 2024...
'American sponsorship is a guarantee,' says Lebanese-American coordination committee