Damascus opens dialogue with Beirut over fleeing Syrian officers

Sources in Damascus revealed that Syria’s new authorities have initiated communication with Lebanon to discuss the extradition of several Syrian army officers who fled across the border following the collapse of Bashar al-Assad’s regime last December.

According to these sources, Syrian government representatives have formally asked Beirut to “cooperate in returning a number of military personnel accused of war crimes under the former regime.”  Lebanon, they added, has not yet taken an official position on the request, as the issue is under “legal and security review” regarding the nature of the charges and the jurisdictions involved, particularly since some of those sought reportedly hold valid residency documents in Lebanon.

Hundreds of Syrian soldiers are believed to have crossed into Lebanese territory after the regime’s fall, seeking refuge or attempting to avoid prosecution.

Bilateral committees and judicial talks

Meanwhile, joint Lebanese-Syrian committees have been meeting almost daily in both Damascus and Beirut to address a range of outstanding issues, including the release of detainees held by each side, border control, and the fight against arms and drug smuggling, in addition to the fate of fugitives who fled to Lebanon.

Earlier this month, Syrian Justice Minister Muzhir al-Weis arrived in Beirut heading a high-level judicial delegation to discuss legal cooperation, with particular focus on the large number of Syrian detainees in Lebanese prisons, especially in the infamous Roumieh jail.

The visit came only days after Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shibani, accompanied by al-Weis and other senior officials, met with Lebanese counterparts in a bid to advance judicial coordination between the two countries.

Negotiating extraditions and legal constraints

Syrian officials are reportedly seeking formal agreements with Beirut to either release or repatriate hundreds of detained Syrians to face trial in Damascus.  The discussions also include establishing a mechanism to hand over detainees arrested in Lebanon during past years for their involvement in the Syrian uprising, while expediting the trials of others prior to their release.

Lebanon, however, maintains a firm stance against extraditing Syrians accused of fighting the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) or taking part in domestic security incidents.

Lebanese Justice Minister Adel Nassar confirmed that “no release will take place without a thorough case-by-case examination consistent with both Lebanese and international legal standards.”