Lebanese, Syrian Defense Chiefs Declare Truce Following Border Violence

Since Hayat Tahrir al-Sham seized power in Damascus late last year, tensions have steadily mounted along Syria’s fraught border with Lebanon

Members of a group affiliated with Syria's new regime stand guard on the streets of the western coastal city of Latakia, Syria, on Dec. 26, 2024. Aaref Watad/AFP via Getty Images

The defense ministers of Lebanon and Syria agreed to a cease-fire on March 17 after two days of border clashes that reportedly left at least 10 people dead.

In separate statements, Lebanese Defense Minister Michel Menassa and his Syrian counterpart, Murhaf Abu Qasra, also agreed to maintain contact between the two countries’ militaries to prevent further clashes.