Lebanon's Foreign Minister Youssef Rajji (R) shaeks hands with his Syrian counterpart Asad al-Shaibani before a meeting in Beirut on October 10 2025. AFP
The neighbours have been seeking to reset ties after Assad's family dynasty exercised control over Lebanese affairs for decades and was accused of assassinating numerous officials in Lebanon who expressed opposition to its rule.
The state-run National News Agency said Shaibani was accompanied by a delegation that included Justice Minister Mazhar al-Wais and would discuss issues including "reactivating Lebanese-Syrian diplomatic relations".
Shaibani is set to meet Lebanese President Joseph Aoun, Prime Minister Nawaf Salam and Foreign Minister Youssef Raggi.
Key issues include the fate of Syrian prisoners in Lebanese jails and the demarcation of the porous, 330-kilometre (205-mile) border notorious for smuggling.
Some 2,250 Syrians are held in Lebanese jails, around a third of the total prison population, a judicial official told AFP, adding that around 700 met the conditions for extradition but the matter requires a new accord between the two countries.
Hundreds of Syrian prisoners, accused of terrorism or related offences, including attacks on Lebanese forces, have been brought before military courts.
Others are held for alleged membership in jihadist or armed groups that were opposed to Assad, while some are still awaiting trial.
Lebanese hosts some 1.3 million Syrians who fled the war, while the United Nations refugee agency says more than 294,000 have returned home this year.
Lebanese Premier Salam met with Syrian leader Ahmed al-Sharaa in Damascus in April.
A month earlier, Lebanon and Syria's defence ministers signed an agreement to address border security threats after clashes left 10 dead.
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