Lebanon pushes Damascus for answers on Assad-era political assassinations

Nearly two decades after the assassination of Former Lebanese Prime Minister and billionaire businessman Rafik Hariri, which shook Lebanon and prompted Syria’s army to withdraw, Lebanese authorities are again pressing Damascus for answers. The fall of Bashar al-Assad last December and the appointment of transitional president Ahmad al-Sharaa have created a rare window for accountability over a string of political killings that have left deep scars on Lebanon’s modern history.

From the 1982 killing of president-elect Bachir Gemayel to Hariri’s 2005 assassination, suspicions of Syrian involvement have long lingered, yet justice has rarely followed. Today, Lebanon’s political spectrum, from the Kataeb Party to independent MPs, is calling on Damascus to open intelligence archives, hand over suspects, and acknowledge its role in shaping Lebanese politics through violence.

A Legacy of violence

Political assassinations have punctuated Lebanon’s history, but allegations of Syrian complicity intensified under the Assad regime. Critics contend that Damascus systematically used targeted killings to eliminate rivals, silence dissent, and influence Lebanese politics.

Hariri’s assassination marked a turning point. A massive truck bomb on Beirut’s seafront killed the former prime minister and 21 others, sparking the Cedar Revolution and forcing Syria’s withdrawal after nearly three decades. A UN-backed tribunal later implicated Hezbollah members, though many Lebanese maintain that ultimate responsibility lay with Damascus.

Calls for transparency

The fall of Assad has reignited demands for justice. Kataeb Party leader Samy Gemayel, whose uncle Bachir was assassinated in 1982, has called for all assassination files to be reopened. For Gemayel, the issue is both personal and national, a test of Lebanon’s ability to reclaim sovereignty and uphold the rule of law.

Prime Minister Nawaf Salam has also engaged Damascus directly. During a landmark visit earlier this year, he urged Al-Sharaa to cooperate on judicial proceedings, including extradition of suspects tied to long-unresolved political killings, marking the first high-level Lebanese approach since Assad’s fall.

A new tone in Damascus

Al-Sharaa has signaled a shift from his predecessor. In March, he acknowledged that the Assad regime had “fueled Lebanon’s civil war” and “manipulated its divisions” for political gain. While he stopped short of admitting direct involvement in specific assassinations, his remarks break decades of denial and raise hopes for further disclosures.

Challenges ahead

Despite momentum, Lebanon faces formidable obstacles. Evidence from the 1980s and 1990s may be lost, destroyed, or hidden. Even if documentation surfaces, converting it into actionable evidence for judicial proceedings will be complex.

There are also risks of regional backlash. Powers tied to Assad’s networks may resist efforts to uncover the past, while revealing Syrian involvement could reignite sectarian tensions within Lebanon itself.

High stakes for Lebanon

For Lebanon’s political class, the stakes are existential. Credible cooperation from Damascus could restore trust in the judiciary, deter future political violence, and establish a more transparent relationship with Syria. Failure risks perpetuating cycles of impunity, leaving political assassinations as instruments of power and the truth buried with the victims.

For many, Damascus’ transitional government offers a fleeting chance to confront a bloody legacy and finally turn the page on decades of violence.