Tensions between Damascus and Beirut are looming as Syria’s interim president, Ahmad al-Sharaa, threatens to escalate diplomatically and economically over what Syrian authorities view as Lebanon’s inaction on the issue of Syrian detainees held in Lebanese prisons.

According to Istanbul-based Syria TV, Syrian leadership is considering a series of retaliatory steps, including the freezing of joint security and economic coordination mechanisms with Lebanon. Sources cited by the network said Damascus is also weighing whether to suspend border cooperation, close crossings altogether, and impose new restrictions on the movement of Lebanese cargo trucks.

“There is concern that all border crossings with Lebanon could be shut down in the coming days,” the sources said, adding that Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani is expected to visit Beirut imminently to discuss the detainee file.

Later, sources at Syria’s Information Ministry dismissed the report, denying any intention to escalate tensions with Beirut.

Lebanese Justice Minister Adel Nassar said that the judicial process for detainees, including Syrian nationals, is moving forward steadily, while underscoring that due process cannot be circumvented.

Responding to a question from MTV about the pace of trials, Nassar pointed to progress since the activation of the courtroom inside Roumieh prison, the country’s largest detention facility.

"Since the opening of the courtroom in Roumieh, around 180 cases have been closed and moved to trial," Nassar said. "However, legal procedures cannot be bypassed, and things are progressing well."

In March, a Lebanese judicial official told AFP that Beirut was prepared to repatriate more than 700 Syrian detainees, roughly a third of the total number of Syrians currently incarcerated in Lebanon, once legal formalities were completed.

“There are more than 700 Syrian detainees and convicts whose files are finalized and who meet the conditions for extradition,” the official said at the time, requesting anonymity. The detainees include those who have completed legal proceedings and are eligible for transfer.

The agreement followed a January visit by then-caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati to Damascus, where he met with al-Sharaa. Both leaders reportedly agreed to facilitate the repatriation of all eligible Syrian prisoners held in Lebanon.

A Lebanese security source estimated that over 2,100 Syrian nationals are currently held in Lebanese prisons, accounting for nearly 30 percent of the country’s inmate population. Of these, approximately 1,756 are detained in major prison facilities, including 350 who have received final sentences. An additional 650 Syrians are being held in temporary detention centers across Lebanon.

Many of the Syrian prisoners are facing charges related to terrorism or alleged involvement in armed groups that opposed the Assad regime. Some have been brought before military courts, accused of participating in attacks on Lebanese security forces or belonging to jihadist factions.

Earlier this year, dozens of Syrian detainees at a Lebanese prison staged a hunger strike to demand clarity on their cases following Assad’s fall. The protest underscored the growing sense of urgency among prisoners and their families as the political transition in Syria reshaped expectations for repatriation.