Lebanon's Prime Minister to Visit Syria

Lebanon's caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati is set to meet with Syria's de facto leader Ahmed al-Sharaa in Damascus on Saturday, marking the first official visit by a Lebanese leader since recent political upheaval in Syria. This meeting follows the imposition of new entry restrictions on Lebanese citizens by Syria, which were enacted after a border clash that injured five Lebanese soldiers. Meanwhile, Cyprus's President Nikos Christodoulides is traveling to Lebanon to discuss developments in the Eastern Mediterranean and internal Lebanese issues amidst a presidential vacuum that has left the country without a leader since October 2022. The geopolitical landscape remains tense as Lebanese politicians are divided over relations with Syria, particularly in light of Hezbollah's involvement in the Syrian civil war. The upcoming meetings are seen as critical for discussing regional stability and bilateral relations between Lebanon and Syria.