Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa said Syria has no intention of taking any military action in Lebanon, ruling out the use of force in relations with its neighbour. In an interview with Qatar-based Al Jazeera cited in a report published on July 27, 2026, he said Damascus supports the presence of strong state institutions in Lebanon.

Al-Sharaa said relations between Syria and Lebanon should be built on the rule of law rather than military power. The report said Damascus has consistently followed this approach in its contacts with Beirut over recent months. Syria and Lebanon share several major issues, including the refugee crisis, illicit drug shipments and efforts to prevent arms trafficking.

The Syrian government said it is actively working to halt such criminal activity. Syrian forces have seized multiple arms shipments sent from Iraq-based, Iran-backed armed groups to Lebanon’s Hezbollah, according to the report. Al-Sharaa also warned that any political or security instability in Lebanon would directly affect Syria, adding that Damascus does not want to see such a situation develop.