Syrian President Ahmad al-Shara dismissed rumors suggesting Syria's involvement in Lebanon as unfounded, affirming that Damascus's stance is centered on stopping the war and preventing its expansion rather than engaging or escalating it.
Al-Shara's remarks came during a meeting with a delegation of elders from the rural areas of Damascus, hosted at the People's Palace alongside rural Damascus Governor Amer Al-Sheikh. The meeting addressed various service and developmental issues pertinent to the province's needs and future priorities.
The Syrian president clarified that the issue of demarcating the border between Syria and Lebanon is not an urgent matter at present, highlighting other more critical issues needing attention, especially the situation of Syrian refugees in Lebanon.
Al-Shara emphasized the repatriation of Syrian refugees as a national priority, stressing the importance of implementing practical and safe mechanisms for their organized return, while parallel to the government's efforts in reconstruction, improving basic services, and enhancing stability across Syrian regions.
During the meeting, the Syrian president outlined the state's vision for the coming phase, including the development of education, agriculture, and investment sectors, alongside supporting local crafts and industries and stimulating economic activity in the provinces.
He also emphasized the significance of direct communication with citizens and attentively addressing their requests and feedback, assuring that the government is working to tackle livelihood and developmental challenges within available resources and well-planned strategies aimed at economic and service improvement.
These statements arise amidst rapid regional developments and increasing speculation about potential roles for some regional countries in the ongoing war, while Damascus reaffirms its commitment to focusing on de-escalation and avoiding widening the conflict.
Analysts believe al-Shara's emphasis on the refugee file reflects a Syrian trend prioritizing internal and humanitarian issues, concurrently with ongoing efforts to restore stability and initiate reconstruction and recovery projects within the country.