Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam has praised the position expressed by Syrian President Ahmad Al-Sharaa regarding Lebanon, saying it put an end to speculation about Damascus's intentions toward its neighbour.
Lebanon's National News Agency reported that Salam held a phone call with Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Al-Shaibani, during which he commended what he described as the "brotherly and candid stance" expressed by Al-Sharaa in a television interview broadcast on Sunday.
He affirmed that the Syrian president's statements had dispelled the assumptions that had been raised about Damascus's orientations toward Lebanon. The agency added that the call served as an occasion to reaffirm the strength of relations between the two countries and the necessity of continuing to consolidate them on new foundations of cooperation, based on shared interests.
Syrian President Ahmad Al-Sharaa had denied, in an interview with the Al-Mashhad channel, any Syrian inclination toward military intervention in Lebanon, following statements by US President Donald Trump in which he hinted at the possibility of Damascus playing a role in the Lebanese file.
Al-Sharaa said his country was seeking "economic lines between Lebanon and Syria, not military ones," noting that the Syrian approach being discussed with the United States and other international parties is based on halting the war in Lebanon and opening pathways for political, economic, and social solutions, alongside revitalising economic relations between the two countries.
He clarified that some American statements had been interpreted inaccurately, stressing that the conversation was about ending the war and finding quiet pathways to a solution, with Syria potentially playing a positive role by supporting Lebanese state institutions rather than through any direct military intervention.
Al-Sharaa affirmed that Syria does not adopt any military option beyond its borders, and that its role is focused on supporting stability, strengthening Lebanese state institutions, and encouraging dialogue among political forces in a manner that preserves Lebanon's sovereignty and prevents further escalation. He also emphasised that Lebanon's security and stability are linked to Syria's own security and stability, noting that Damascus possesses tools for positive influence in the Lebanese arena, though this remains contingent on consensus among the Lebanese themselves.