Syria's new leader vows not to 'negatively' interfere in Lebanon

He says Damascus respects Lebanon's sovereignty and unity of its territories

- AFP

DAMASCUS - Two weeks after seizing power in a sweeping offensive, Syria's new leader, Mr Ahmed al-Sharaa, has stepped up regional contacts, vowing in a meeting on Dec 22 not to "negatively" interfere in neighboring Lebanon.

Mr Sharaa also met Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, a video released by the Anadolu state news agency showed, after Ankara-backed rebels played a key role in supporting his Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), which seized Damascus on Dec 8 and ousted long-time ruler Bashar al-Assad.

Turkey has maintained strong ties with Syria's new leaders and Ankara's intelligence chief, Mr Ibrahim Kalin, was in Damascus just four days after Mr Assad's regime fell.

Regional powerhouse Saudi Arabia is also in direct contact with Syria's new government, having supported the opposition to Mr Assad for years during Syria's civil war, and will send a delegation to the country soon, Syria's ambassador in Riyadh said.

During his meeting with visiting Lebanese Druze chiefs Walid Jumblatt and his son Taymur, Mr Sharaa said Syria would no longer exert "negative interference in Lebanon at all".