The issue of Syrian detainees in Lebanon’s Roumieh Prison has become a top priority in the file of Syrian-Lebanese relations, amid speculation that Damascus may adopt retaliatory measures against Beirut over its handling of the case.
On Thursday, July 11, Syria’s state-run Al-Ikhbariya TV cited a source in the Ministry of Information denying reports that the Syrian government was planning any escalation.
“There is no truth to the rumors suggesting that the Syrian government intends to take escalatory measures against Lebanon,” the source said.
However, the source affirmed that the Syrian government considers the detainee issue a priority and stressed “the need to address it swiftly through official channels between the two countries.”
The statement followed a report by the Syria TV website quoting unnamed sources who claimed that Syria’s transitional president, Ahmad al-Sharaa, had threatened “diplomatic and economic escalation” in response to Beirut’s continued neglect of the detainees’ situation.
According to the report, Damascus is studying gradual escalation options that include suspending certain security and economic cooperation mechanisms, reconsidering joint border coordination, and potentially closing border crossings or restricting the movement of Lebanese trucks.
Lebanon’s President Joseph Aoun, meanwhile, reaffirmed his commitment to strong bilateral relations. During a meeting on Friday, July 11, with a delegation from the Arab and International Relations Council, he said, “We are keen to establish good relations with Syria while respecting the internal affairs of both countries.”
Roumieh Prison—Lebanon’s largest and most overcrowded detention facility—is known for housing both criminal and political detainees. According to the families of Syrian detainees, many have been imprisoned for years without fair trials, and some have not appeared before a judicial committee in over nine years
The prison itself suffers from chronic overcrowding and poor conditions, including shortages in healthcare, food, and basic services. Originally designed to hold around 1,200 inmates, Roumieh now houses over four times that number.
This overcrowding stems largely from deteriorating conditions in other Lebanese detention facilities, forcing authorities to relocate prisoners, as well as a systemic reliance on pretrial and arbitrary detention and sluggish legal proceedings.
Syria’s Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shibani discussed the detainee issue with Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam on May 18, emphasizing the urgency of resolving it.
Al-Shibani stated at the time that the Syrian government was fully committed to resolving the matter as soon as possible and noted that he had agreed with Salam on several actionable steps.
Similarly, President Ahmad al-Sharaa and Foreign Minister al-Shibani met with a Lebanese delegation led by Prime Minister Nawaf Salam on April 14, where they coordinated judicial matters and discussed the fate of missing and detained Syrians.
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