Walid Jumblatt Receives Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Shabaneh at His Clemenceau Residence

Former Socialist Progressive Party leader Walid Jumblatt hosted Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Shabaneh at his residence in Clemenceau on July 2, 2026.

The meeting comes amid ongoing diplomatic developments between the two neighboring nations. President Joseph Aoun emphasized that a Syrian delegation had stressed the importance of bilateral cooperation occurring through constitutional institutions—between state and state, rather than involving any particular political faction.

Aoun's remarks suggested that the visit by Syria's top diplomat signals the absence of any intention by Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa to interfere in Lebanese domestic affairs.

Following his encounter with Shabaneh, Jumblatt stated that the former regime has concluded and that the time has come to establish a fresh chapter in political and strategic relations between the two countries.

The meeting took place against a backdrop of heightened regional tensions. An Israeli aircraft dropped a sonic bomb on the town of Mansouri on the same day. Meanwhile, Iran's military spokesperson reiterated that the country continues to regard itself as being in a state of war, noting that it has not wasted time in strengthening its defensive capabilities.

On the economic front, Lebanon's Minister of Economy Amer al-Bassât reported that war-related losses since 2024 may exceed 16 billion dollars.