Lebanon says it is ready to demarcate border with Syria

Lebanon is prepared to demarcate its border with Syria, President Joseph Aoun said on Friday, while noting that the dispute over the Shebaa Farms could be addressed at a later stage.

Speaking to a media delegation in Beirut, Aoun described the pace of bilateral relations as “slow but moving toward improvement.” He added that Lebanon is calling for the activation of a judicial agreement with Syria to address the situation of Syrian detainees in Lebanese prisons.

The president also revealed that France has provided Lebanon with maps related to the border. “We are ready for the border demarcation whenever Damascus decides, and the Lebanese committee is prepared for that,” he said. He noted that the Shebaa Farms issue would be “left until the end,” with the potential creation of separate committees to demarcate maritime and land boundaries.

The Shebaa Farms area is disputed between Syria and Lebanon. It has remained under Israeli control since Israel withdrew from southern Lebanon in 2000, claiming it as Syrian territory, while Beirut maintains it belongs to Lebanon. The Lebanese-Syrian border stretches over 375 kilometres and includes mountains, valleys, and plains, with six official land crossings and no clear markers separating the two countries.

Border demarcation has been a longstanding challenge since Lebanon and Syria gained independence from France (1920–1946), occasionally causing diplomatic tensions, armed clashes, and smuggling issues.

Aoun said the Lebanese army’s responsibilities “are not limited to Hezbollah’s weapons.” He added: “The army also combats drugs, fights terrorism, secures the borders, and maintains internal security.”

Regarding a government decision to limit weapons north of the Litani River to the army, Aoun said that he and the cabinet “were the first to raise and decide on this matter.” He stressed that the army operates across all Lebanese regions and is fully executing its duties.

The Lebanese government approved a plan on 5 August, based on a proposal by U.S. Special Envoy Tom Barrack, to place all weapons including those held by Hezbollah under state control, tasking the army with implementation before the end of 2025. Hezbollah has opposed the plan, stating that Israeli forces must withdraw fully from Lebanese territory before it lays down arms.

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