Syria denies reports about escalatory steps against Lebanon

Reports circulating about the Syrian government's alleged intention to take escalatory steps against Lebanon are unfounded, a source from Syria's Ministry of Information told the state-run Al-Ekhbariya TV on Friday.

The source emphasized that the Syrian government considers the issue of Syrian detainees in Lebanese prisons a top priority and is committed to resolving it swiftly through official channels between the two countries.

Unnamed sources later told LBCI televisions that "families of Syrian detainees held in Lebanon’s Roumieh Prison are planning protest movements starting from the Tadamon neighborhood in Damascus toward the Jdeidet Yabous–Masnaa crossing, aiming to block traffic coming from Lebanon."

"In addition to the protest at Jdeidet Yabous, a sit-in is planned at the Jousieh border crossing, with calls circulating for similar action at the Arida crossing as well," the sources added.

The Istanbul-based Syria TV had earlier reported that Syrian interim president Ahmad al-Sharaa has threatened diplomatic and economic escalation against Lebanon over what Damascus considers disregard from Beirut toward the Syrian detainees file.

Damascus is “mulling gradual escalation choices against Lebanon starting by the freezing of some security and economic channels,” the TV network quoted unnamed sources as saying.

The Syrian sides is also considering a reevaluation of joint border security cooperation, the closure of border crossings and the imposition of restrictions on the entry of Lebanese cargo trucks, the sources said.

The sources also expressed concern that there might be a full closure of the border crossings with Lebanon over the coming days, noting that Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibai will visit Beirut within days to discuss the file of Syrian detainees.

A Lebanese judicial source said in March that Lebanon was ready to repatriate about one third of the more than 2,000 Syrian detainees in its overcrowded prisons.

The announcement came as Lebanon and Syria sought a new start in bilateral ties after the December fall of longtime Syrian president Bashar al-Assad.

"There are more than 700 Syrian detainees and convicts whose files are finalized and who meet the conditions for extradition," the source told AFP at the time, without specifying when the process could be completed.

In January, Lebanon's then-caretaker prime minister Najib Mikati visited Damascus and met with al-Sharaa. The two leaders agreed that the Syrian prisoners should be repatriated.

According to a security source, there are "more than 2,100 Syrian detainees" in Lebanon's prisons, many of whom are awaiting trial.

Syrians represent about 30 percent of Lebanon's prison population, the source added.

Hundreds of them, accused of "terrorism" or related offenses including attacks on Lebanese forces, have been brought before military courts.

Other Syrian detainees are held for alleged membership in jihadist or armed groups that were opposed to Assad.

An Islamist-led offensive toppled him last December.

One prisoner, speaking to AFP on condition of anonymity, said that he, like many others, was arrested "on political grounds."

The prisoner said he was part of the rebel Free Syrian Army, one of the main opposition factions during the country's 13-year civil war made up of mostly army defectors and other opponents of the Assad governments.

The security source said that prisoners, Lebanese and foreigners alike, were experiencing harsh conditions.

"Lebanese and foreign prisoners live in difficult conditions due to limited food rations and medical services, the economic crisis in Lebanon, and overcrowding in their cells," said the source.

In February, dozens of Syrian detainees in a Lebanese prison launched a hunger strike to demand a resolution for their cases following Assad's fall.

Lebanon also hosts about 1.5 million Syrian refugees, according to the authorities, about half of whom are registered with the United Nations.

They fled the neighboring country during the war that broke out after the Assad government's repression of pro-democracy protests in 2011.