The Syrian embassy in Beirut has officially notified Lebanon’s Foreign Ministry that the Lebanese-Syrian Higher Council will suspend its operations, with all communications between the two countries now restricted to formal diplomatic channels, according to local reports.

The Lebanese-Syrian Higher Council was established in 1991 under a cooperation agreement signed by then-Lebanese President Elias Hrawi and Syrian President Hafez al-Assad. The council was designed to serve as a high-level coordination body between the two countries, overseeing bilateral political, economic, and security matters, as well as regional cooperation projects.

During the Syrian occupation of Lebanon, the council acted as a key channel through which Damascus exercised influence over Lebanese political and administrative affairs, facilitating coordination between Lebanese authorities and the Syrian government. It was often involved in implementing decisions aligned with Syrian interests, ranging from infrastructure projects to security coordination, and occasionally mediating disputes among Lebanese political factions under Syrian oversight.