Beirut: Lebanon's Grand Mufti Sheikh Abdul Latif Derian stood atop Mount Qasioun, gazing over the Syrian capital-a city he had not entered before the fall of the Assad regime. His presence marked what many observers are calling a symbolic turning point in Lebanese-Syrian relations.
According to National News Agency - Lebanon, Derian's visit included high-level meetings and religious ceremonies, signifying a potential thaw in relations between the neighboring countries. Syrian officials, including the country's Minister of Religious Endowments and Damascus' own Mufti, welcomed Derian warmly, with their first meeting taking place at the presidential palace.
Speaking from the grand Umayyad Mosque, Derian highlighted the historic ties between Lebanon and Syria. He acknowledged the leadership of President Ahmed al-Sharaa, reflecting a position shaped by his affiliation with the moderate Sunni public linked to former Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri. Derian emphasized the need for a balance between religious and civil governance.
The Mufti's visit also included private discussions at Syria's Ministry of Religious Endowments, where issues of bilateral cooperation over religious endowment properties were discussed. These talks are of longstanding economic and political importance.
The geopolitical context was underscored by a delayed meeting between Derian and Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa, who was engaged with the British Foreign Secretary. Behind closed doors, they reportedly discussed a controversial Israeli proposal involving territorial exchanges between Syria and Lebanon in relation to the Golan Heights and other regions.