Lebanon to reopen embassy in Damascus following Syrian regime collapse

Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati speaks during the International Conference in Support of Lebanon’s People and Sovereignty in Paris, France on October 24, 2024 [Ümit Dönmez – Anadolu Agency]

Lebanese caretaker Prime Minister, Najib Mikati, ordered the reopening of his country’s embassy in Damascus in the wake of the fall of Bashar Assad’s regime, according to a statement Monday, Anadolu Agency reports.

In the statement, the Lebanese government said Mikati met with Foreign Minister, Abdallah Bou Habib,, on Monday at the Grand Serail in Beirut to discuss the situation in Syria.

“The Prime Minister instructed the reopening of the Lebanese embassy in Damascus, which was closed amid recent developments,” the statement read.

The embassy’s closure on 8 December coincided with the takeover of Damascus by Syrian opposition factions, marking the collapse of Ba’ath Party rule after 61 years and the end of the Assad family’s 53-year grip on power.

The move underscores Lebanon’s diplomatic realignment in light of the sweeping political changes in Syria. Further announcements regarding the embassy’s operational timeline are expected as Beirut monitors the evolving regional dynamics.

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