The Lebanese Kataeb Party issued the following statement:  

The recent remarks by Ahmed Al-Sharaa, the General Commander of Syria’s new leadership, regarding Lebanese-Syrian ties signal a positive shift and an important step toward fostering balanced relations that uphold the sovereignty and independence of both nations. The Lebanese Kataeb Party welcomes this new Syrian position toward Lebanon, commends Al-Sharaa’s acknowledgment of the assassinations carried out by the Assad regime against Lebanese leaders—most notably the martyr President Bachir Gemayel—and values his forward-looking approach that transcends political and sectarian divisions. The Party also appreciates his emphasis on opening a new chapter with all segments of the Lebanese people.  

The Syrian government’s willingness to address the issue of Lebanese detainees in Syrian prisons is a constructive step toward resolving one of the most pressing and humanitarian issues in Lebanese-Syrian relations. In light of this, we urge the Lebanese government to act immediately by assigning a competent authority to engage with the Syrian side and to provide detailed and accurate lists of all Lebanese detainees in Syrian prisons, including Kataeb Political Bureau member Boutros Khawand. Time is crucial, and every day of delay prolongs the suffering of the detainees’ families.  

We further call on Syria’s new leadership to ensure accountability by prosecuting Syrian officials proven to be implicated in assassinations carried out in Lebanon, apprehending fugitive criminal Habib Shartouni, and extraditing him to Lebanon to serve his sentence.  

The Lebanese Kataeb Party once again congratulates the Syrian people on closing a dark chapter in their history. We hope these actions and positions will pave the way for a new era in Lebanese-Syrian relations based on mutual respect and shared interests. Such steps would serve the well-being of both peoples and foster stability in the region.