Lebanon Seeks ‘Strategic Ties’ With Sharaa, Syria ‘Foils’ IS Bid To Blow Up Shia Shrine With IEDs

Lebanon’s PM Najib Mikati visited Damascus on 11 January for talks with Syria’s new leader Ahmed al-Sharaa, marking the first visit by a Lebanese head of government since the Syrian civil war began in 2011. Mikati’s visit followed the Islamist-led rebels’ December seizure of Damascus, ending Bashar al-Assad’s rule. Al-Sharaa expressed hope for stronger ties, neutrality in Lebanon’s affairs, and optimism about Lebanon’s new president Joseph Aoun stabilising the country. Meanwhile, Syrian intelligence thwarted an IS attempt to bomb the Sayyida Zaynab Shiite shrine near Damascus. Authorities arrested suspects with alleged links to ISIL and seized weapons. Separately, Turkish FM Hakan Fidan criticised Israel’s expansionist policies, opposed French involvement in Syria, and stressed eliminating Kurdish militant threats. France’s FM highlighted efforts to balance Turkey’s security concerns with Kurdish rights. On 12 January, Middle Eastern and European diplomats met in Riyadh to discuss supporting Syria under its new leadership. n18oc_world n18oc_crux