Al-Shibani made the remarks during his first official visit to Lebanon since U.S. President Donald Trump publicly suggested that Syrian forces could play a role in confronting Hezbollah inside Lebanon. The minister held talks with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, a political ally of Hezbollah.

According to Lebanon’s state news agency, Al-Shibani said the “Hezbollah file” was not discussed during his meetings with Lebanese officials. He added, however, that Syria would be prepared to meet the group if circumstances and national interests required, although the agency did not provide further details.

A statement issued by the Lebanese presidency said Aoun and Syrian President Ahmed Al-Sharaa shared the objective of preserving stability in both neighboring countries. According to the statement, Al-Sharaa assured the Lebanese president that Syria would not interfere in Lebanon’s internal political affairs.

Relations between Syria’s current leadership and Hezbollah have undergone a significant transformation since the fall of former President Bashar Assad in 2024. The former rebel factions now governing Syria fought Hezbollah for years while the Lebanese group deployed fighters in support of Assad’s government during Syria’s civil war.

Since assuming power, Al-Sharaa’s administration has sought to balance regional relationships while focusing on rebuilding a country devastated by more than a decade of conflict. Syria has also largely remained outside the broader confrontation involving the United States, Israel and Iran.

Last month, Trump said he had discussed Hezbollah with Al-Sharaa, suggesting Israel should allow Syrian forces to confront the Lebanese armed group instead. The remarks came after Trump criticized Israel over civilian casualties in Lebanon during its conflict with Hezbollah.

Al-Sharaa subsequently rejected speculation that Syrian troops could enter Lebanon, describing reports of any planned Syrian military deployment as unfounded, according to Syrian state media.

Reuters reported in March that the United States had encouraged Syria to consider deploying forces to eastern Lebanon to assist efforts aimed at disarming Hezbollah. However, Damascus was said to be reluctant because of concerns that such a move could draw Syria into a wider regional conflict and inflame sectarian tensions in both countries.

Trump’s special envoy to Syria, Tom Barrack, later dismissed reports that Washington had urged Damascus to send troops into Lebanon, calling those claims false and inaccurate.

Syria maintained a dominant political and military presence in Lebanon for nearly three decades after deploying troops during Lebanon’s 1975-1990 civil war. Syrian forces remained in the country until 2005, when they withdrew following widespread domestic and international pressure after the assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri.

Any renewed Syrian military involvement in Lebanon would carry significant political and sectarian sensitivities, given the complex religious composition of both countries and the legacy of Syria’s previous role in Lebanese affairs.

The agreement links the restoration of full Lebanese state authority in southern Lebanon to the verified disarmament of non-state armed groups, including Hezbollah. Analysts say the arrangement places obligations on Lebanon that its government and military are unable to enforce while offering no guaranteed timetable for an Israeli withdrawal.

Hezbollah has rejected any move to disarm, and successive Lebanese governments have acknowledged the limits of their authority over the group, which remains the country’s most powerful armed faction. Analysts say this leaves Israel with grounds to maintain an open-ended military presence in southern Lebanon.

“This is not an agreement, it is an imposed settlement,” a senior Lebanese politician, who declined to be identified, told Reuters. The official said the Lebanese army lacks both the structure and capability to disarm Hezbollah and that attempting to do so would threaten Lebanon’s fragile sectarian balance.

Michael Young, a Beirut-based political analyst, said the framework placed the burden almost entirely on Lebanon while allowing Israel to remain in southern Lebanon indefinitely if the disarmament condition is not met.

Fawaz Gerges, professor of international relations at the London School of Economics and Political Science, described the agreement as “born dead,” arguing that it depends on a condition that is politically and practically unattainable. He said Israel had already established a security buffer zone in southern Lebanon and that the agreement risked giving that presence long-term diplomatic legitimacy.

The framework forms part of wider diplomatic efforts linked to easing regional tensions following the recent conflict involving Iran, Israel and the United States. Analysts said separating the Lebanon file from broader regional negotiations has provided Israel with greater flexibility in maintaining its military posture along the border.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has presented the agreement as a step toward broader regional stability while maintaining that Israeli forces will remain in the designated security zone until Hezbollah and other armed groups are disarmed and no longer pose a threat to northern Israel.

Three senior Israeli officials told Reuters that Israel has limited confidence in Lebanon’s ability to disarm Hezbollah but views the agreement as an important diplomatic framework for future normalization efforts with its northern neighbor.

The conflict in Lebanon has displaced around one million people and resulted in approximately 4,000 deaths during Israel’s military campaign against Hezbollah, according to figures cited in the report.

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun welcomed the agreement as an initial step toward restoring Lebanon’s sovereignty and facilitating the return of displaced residents. Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri rejected the framework, describing it as an imposed arrangement that failed to safeguard Lebanon’s interests.

Hezbollah Secretary-General Naim Qassem declared the agreement “null and void” and said the group would continue resisting Israeli forces until they withdraw from Lebanese territory. Hezbollah lawmaker Hassan Fadlallah warned that efforts to implement the deal through forced disarmament could trigger internal conflict.

Danny Citrinowicz, a former Israeli military intelligence officer and regional analyst, said Hezbollah’s dismantlement was unlikely under current conditions and predicted that Israel would continue its military deployment while Hezbollah retained its weapons.

He argued that a narrower agreement focused on Hezbollah’s withdrawal north of the Litani River, combined with an expanded Lebanese army deployment, would have had greater prospects for implementation.

Mohammed Obeid, an analyst close to Hezbollah, also questioned the viability of the agreement, saying its provisions carried the potential to destabilize Lebanon by making state action against Hezbollah a prerequisite for implementation.

The talks come as the mandate of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), which has monitored the frontier region for decades, is expected to wind down by the end of 2026. Several European governments have reportedly expressed support for exploring alternative arrangements to maintain stability in southern Lebanon following the mission’s departure.

According to the Lebanese Presidency, Macron and Aoun discussed possible international participation in a post-UNIFIL security mechanism during a telephone conversation. The French leader indicated he would consult partner nations regarding their willingness to contribute to any future multinational presence.

“President Macron indicated that he would conduct outreach to a number of countries to determine their stance on this step,” the Lebanese Presidency said, noting that preparations would be necessary before UNIFIL’s expected withdrawal process begins in early 2027.

UNIFIL was first deployed in 1978 and was significantly expanded following the 2006 conflict between Israel and Hezbollah under United Nations Security Council Resolution 1701. The mission has since served as a key stabilizing force along the Blue Line, the UN-demarcated boundary separating Lebanon and Israel.

Diplomatic discussions have increasingly focused on how to preserve security coordination and monitoring mechanisms once the current peacekeeping framework concludes. A French proposal under consideration reportedly includes military and civilian options, as well as an alternative delegation structure involving European partners.

According to Lebanese officials, preliminary concepts envision an international force ranging from approximately 2,000 to 5,500 personnel. No final decision has been announced, and consultations among participating countries remain at an early stage.

European nations form the backbone of the current UNIFIL mission. Countries including France, Italy, Spain, Ireland, Germany, Finland, Austria and Greece contribute substantial numbers of peacekeepers and logistical support.

The two leaders also discussed developments in Lebanese-Syrian relations and ongoing coordination between Beirut and Damascus.

Aoun welcomed recent remarks by Syrian President Ahmed Al-Sharaa affirming Syria’s commitment to Lebanon’s sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity. According to the Lebanese Presidency, Al-Sharaa reiterated that Syria does not intend to intervene militarily in Lebanon and that any future Syrian role would be conducted exclusively through official Lebanese state institutions.

The discussions highlight broader regional concerns over maintaining security arrangements in southern Lebanon at a time of continued geopolitical uncertainty and ongoing efforts to strengthen state authority along the country’s southern frontier.

Mediators Qatar and Pakistan said discussions were conducted in a “positive and constructive atmosphere” and produced initial agreements designed to lower the risk of military incidents in Lebanon and the Gulf.

The two countries announced the creation of a technical framework for continued negotiations, including a direct contact mechanism intended to prevent misunderstandings and incidents in the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most strategically important maritime trade routes.

They also confirmed the establishment of a “de-confliction cell” involving the relevant parties and Lebanese authorities, aimed at preventing a resumption of hostilities between Israel and the Iran-backed Hezbollah movement.

The talks mark the first formal meeting between American and Iranian officials since the signing of a memorandum of understanding intended to end months of regional conflict. The agreement included provisions calling for an end to fighting in Lebanon, where Hezbollah and Israeli forces have been engaged in a prolonged confrontation that intensified following the broader Iran-Israel conflict.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi welcomed the outcome, describing the negotiations as a significant step toward stabilizing Lebanon and reducing regional tensions.

In a statement posted on social media, Araghchi said progress had also been made on economic issues, including the easing of restrictions on Iranian oil and petrochemical exports, the release of some frozen assets and plans for reconstruction and development initiatives.

The negotiations faced early uncertainty after Iran’s delegation briefly suspended participation following comments by U.S. President Donald Trump threatening renewed military action against Tehran over its support for Hezbollah. Talks later resumed and concluded with the announcement of the new coordination mechanisms.

Separately, Lebanese President Joseph Aoun held a joint call with U.S. Vice President JD Vance, senior presidential adviser Jared Kushner and Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani. According to the Lebanese presidency, the leaders discussed measures to reinforce the ceasefire in Lebanon, halt further Israeli military escalation and advance the proposed de-confliction framework.

Israel also signaled conditional support for maintaining the ceasefire. Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said Israel would respect the truce provided Hezbollah did not violate its terms.

Speaking in a call with New Zealand Foreign Minister Winston Peters, Saar said Israel had no territorial ambitions in Lebanon but would maintain its security zone to prevent future attacks by Hezbollah.

He added that dismantling Hezbollah’s military infrastructure would serve the interests of both Israel and Lebanon, while accusing Iran of exercising influence over Lebanon through the armed group.

The latest diplomatic efforts come as international mediators seek to transform a fragile cessation of hostilities into a more durable arrangement, with Lebanon emerging as a key test of broader efforts to reduce tensions between Washington and Tehran.

Speaking to a delegation of Maronite bishops from the Lebanese diaspora, Aoun said Beirut had received assurances that developments surrounding the U.S.-Iran agreement would not dictate the course of negotiations involving Lebanon.

“We are certainly in favor of a ceasefire and welcome the efforts of any country that helps achieve it, including Iran,” Aoun said, according to remarks released by the Lebanese Presidency.

His comments came amid heightened regional diplomacy following the announcement of an interim agreement between Washington and Tehran aimed at ending months of conflict and creating a framework for broader negotiations.

Aoun emphasized that Lebanon’s leadership retains full authority over any discussions affecting the country and rejected suggestions that external actors could negotiate on its behalf.

“The negotiation is being conducted by the Lebanese state, which is sovereign in its decisions, and no one takes its place,” he said.

The president added that any future settlement involving Lebanon would be reached through the country’s legitimate institutions and would not come at the expense of Lebanese national interests.

His remarks appear intended to reassure domestic audiences amid growing speculation that regional diplomatic arrangements could influence parallel discussions concerning hostilities along the Lebanon-Israel border.

The issue has gained urgency as international efforts intensify to secure a broader regional de-escalation. Earlier on Wednesday, leaders of the Group of Seven nations called for an immediate ceasefire in Lebanon while welcoming the U.S.-Iran agreement and supporting further negotiations aimed at reducing tensions across the Middle East.

Lebanon has remained a central focus of diplomatic efforts following months of conflict involving Israel and Hezbollah, with international mediators seeking pathways toward a durable ceasefire and broader regional stability.

Aoun’s statement underscores Beirut’s position that while it welcomes external assistance and diplomatic support, decisions regarding negotiations and potential settlements remain exclusively within the authority of the Lebanese state.

Speaking during a meeting with a delegation from the Culture and Freedom Foundation led by former justice minister Ibrahim Najjar, Aoun dismissed calls for Lebanon to abandon the negotiations and said the government would continue pursuing talks until a settlement serving Lebanon’s national interests is achieved.

“We will not withdraw and we will continue until we reach a conclusion that benefits our nation,” Aoun said, according to remarks released by the presidency.

The Lebanese leader emphasized the role of state institutions in preserving sovereignty and stability, arguing that national authority remains the foundation for addressing the country’s security and political challenges.

Aoun’s comments come amid ongoing diplomatic efforts to stabilize the Israel-Lebanon frontier following months of conflict that have displaced large numbers of civilians and caused extensive damage in southern Lebanon.

Earlier, in a televised interview, Aoun made a rare direct appeal to Israel to pursue a negotiated settlement, arguing that military action alone could not guarantee long-term security.

He said Lebanon’s approach remains aligned with the 2002 Arab Peace Initiative, under which Arab states offered normalization of relations with Israel in exchange for the establishment of a Palestinian state and Israel’s withdrawal from occupied territories.

Aoun stressed, however, that progress toward broader normalization would require a gradual process and confidence-building measures rather than immediate political breakthroughs.

Lebanon and Israel agreed last week to a new ceasefire arrangement backed by the United States, but tensions have persisted amid reports of continued violence and disagreements over implementation.

The conflict escalated on March 2 when Hezbollah launched attacks against Israel in support of Iran. Israel responded with an extensive air campaign and ground operations that resulted in the occupation of areas in southern Lebanon.

According to figures cited by Lebanese officials, more than 3,600 people have been killed in Israeli military operations in Lebanon, while over one million residents have been displaced by the fighting.

Aoun’s remarks underscore Lebanon’s effort to balance diplomatic engagement with demands for concrete security and territorial guarantees, as international mediators seek to prevent a broader regional escalation.

In an interview with CNN, Aoun said Lebanon was being used as a bargaining chip in Iran’s negotiations with the United States and described such involvement as unacceptable.

Aoun also called on Hezbollah, the Iran-backed armed group and political movement, to accept diplomacy as the only viable path to resolving its conflict with Israel.

“Hezbollah must understand that there is no other way but to sit and talk,” Aoun said, adding that negotiation was the only means of preserving what remains of the country after years of instability and conflict.

The president’s remarks reflect growing pressure on Hezbollah following months of fighting and come as Aoun continues to advocate for the group’s peaceful disarmament, a position he has maintained since taking office last year.

The comments also underscore widening political divisions in Lebanon, where debates over Hezbollah’s military role and Iran’s influence remain central issues.

On Thursday, Hezbollah rejected a U.S.-mediated ceasefire proposal that had been discussed by Lebanese and Israeli officials. The plan reportedly called for a halt in hostilities and the withdrawal of Hezbollah fighters from southern Lebanon.

Iran has linked a ceasefire in Lebanon to broader negotiations with Washington over the regional conflict that began after U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran in February.

The renewed offensive comes as diplomatic efforts involving the United States and Iran continue in parallel to end a wider regional conflict that has drawn in multiple fronts across the Middle East, including the Israel-Hezbollah confrontation along the Lebanese border.

In a video statement, Netanyahu said he had directed the Israeli military to accelerate operations against the Iran-backed militant group, citing continued drone attacks on Israeli positions.

“I have ordered an even greater acceleration of our operations,” Netanyahu said, adding that Israel would intensify its military campaign and increase firepower against Hezbollah.

The Israeli military subsequently launched a series of strikes across the Bekaa Valley in eastern Lebanon and targeted multiple locations in southern Lebanon, according to Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency.

Lebanese media reported that at least three people were killed in separate strikes involving two vehicles and a motorcycle. Additional airstrikes were reported near the coastal city of Tyre and in other areas of southern Lebanon.

The escalation followed evacuation warnings issued by the Israeli military for residents in 10 villages in southern Lebanon. Israeli authorities accused Hezbollah of violating the April 17 ceasefire agreement through continued attacks on Israeli forces and territory.

Israeli military spokesman Avichay Adraee said operations were being conducted in response to Hezbollah activities that breached the truce.
Hezbollah said it had carried out several drone attacks against Israeli military positions on Monday and later announced strikes targeting three military barracks and an additional post in northern Israel. The group described its actions as retaliation for Israeli violations of the ceasefire.

Despite the agreement reached in April, hostilities have persisted almost daily, underscoring the fragility of efforts to stabilize the Israel-Lebanon frontier.
The violence prompted visible displacement in parts of Lebanon. Residents were seen leaving neighborhoods in Beirut’s southern suburbs, a stronghold of Hezbollah, following warnings of possible expanded military action.

According to Lebanese authorities, Israeli operations since the outbreak of fighting in early March have killed more than 3,100 people. Israel said one soldier was killed in southern Lebanon on Sunday, bringing the number of Israeli military fatalities in the conflict to 23. One civilian contractor has also been reported killed.

Pressure for a broader military campaign has intensified within Israel’s governing coalition. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich called for harsher retaliatory measures against Hezbollah drone attacks, while National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir advocated a return to intensive warfare and greater territorial control in southern Lebanon.

Israeli forces currently maintain positions inside a security zone extending several kilometers into Lebanese territory. The military has identified the Litani River as a strategic boundary beyond which Hezbollah fighters should not operate.

Amid the escalation, Lebanese President Joseph Aoun reaffirmed his demand for a full Israeli withdrawal from southern Lebanon, describing the issue as non-negotiable. He also defended ongoing indirect contacts between Lebanese and Israeli officials.

The two countries, which do not maintain diplomatic relations, are scheduled to participate in talks in Washington on June 2 and 3, preceded by military-level discussions at the Pentagon later this week.
Meanwhile, Hezbollah Secretary-General Naim Qassem reiterated opposition to direct negotiations with Israel and rejected calls for the group to disarm, signaling that key obstacles to a durable settlement remain unresolved.

The latest escalation highlights the challenge facing regional mediators seeking to contain multiple interconnected conflicts across the Middle East as negotiations over Iran, maritime security and broader ceasefire arrangements continue.

The national holiday marks May 25, 2000, when Israeli forces ended a 22-year presence in southern Lebanon following years of conflict. This year’s commemoration came amid continuing hostilities along the Israeli-Lebanese border, prompting Lebanese officials to emphasize the unresolved security situation in the south.

Prime Minister Nawaf Salam said the anniversary should serve as a moment of national solidarity with families affected by the ongoing conflict, including those who have lost relatives, been wounded, displaced or remain in frontline communities.

In a statement posted on social media, Salam said Lebanon would reserve celebrations until Israeli forces had fully withdrawn from Lebanese territory and displaced residents could safely return to their homes.
President Joseph Aoun described the 2000 withdrawal as the result of sacrifices made by residents of southern Lebanon, calling the anniversary a symbol of national dignity.

He said, however, that the occasion was being observed amid continued military operations in southern villages and what he characterized as ongoing violations of international resolutions, including United Nations Security Council Resolution 1701.

Aoun reiterated Lebanon’s commitment to securing a complete Israeli withdrawal through diplomatic negotiations while emphasizing the role of the Lebanese state and armed forces in safeguarding national sovereignty.

The statements came as tensions remained elevated in southern Lebanon. Residents of 10 villages were ordered to evacuate on Monday as bombardments continued and concerns mounted over a broader escalation along the border region.

According to Lebanon’s Health Ministry, Israeli airstrikes on Sunday killed at least 18 people and wounded 21 others. The ministry said the cumulative death toll linked to the conflict had reached 3,151.

The anniversary has long held symbolic significance in Lebanon’s modern history, marking the end of Israel’s military presence in most of southern Lebanon after more than two decades. This year, however, the observance reflected the extent to which renewed cross-border hostilities have reshaped the country’s political and security landscape.

Lebanese leaders used the occasion to underscore both the legacy of the 2000 withdrawal and the challenges posed by the current conflict, as military operations and civilian displacement continue to affect communities across the south.

Aoun’s remarks came after Israeli strikes targeted several locations in southern Lebanon and the Iran-backed armed group Hezbollah announced a drone attack on what it described as a military target in northern Israel.

“The framework that Lebanon has set for the negotiations consists of an Israeli withdrawal, a ceasefire, the deployment of the army along the border, the return of the displaced, and economic aid,” Aoun said in a statement.

“My duty, based on my position and my responsibility, is to do the impossible, and to choose what is least costly, in order to stop the war against Lebanon and its people,” he added.

The ceasefire, initially reached on April 17, was extended by 45 days last week following a third round of talks between Lebanese and Israeli representatives in Washington. Hezbollah has opposed the negotiations.

Despite the truce, violence has persisted along the border. Hezbollah said Monday it launched a drone targeting an Iron Dome air defense platform at an Israeli military encampment in northern Israel, describing the strike as retaliation for Israeli ceasefire violations.

Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency reported multiple Israeli strikes across southern Lebanon, while the Israeli military issued evacuation warnings for residents in three southern Lebanese towns.

The latest escalation followed Israeli strikes on Sunday that Lebanese authorities said killed seven people, including a member of Palestinian Islamic Jihad in northeastern Lebanon, away from the border region.

Israeli forces have maintained operations inside parts of southern Lebanon within a self-declared “yellow line” extending roughly 10 kilometers north of the border. Israeli troops have also carried out demolitions in areas under their control.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Sunday that Israel was confronting growing threats from first-person-view drones increasingly deployed by Hezbollah against Israeli forces.

According to Lebanese authorities, Israeli military operations have killed more than 2,900 people in Lebanon since the conflict began, including more than 400 since the ceasefire took effect in April.