BEIRUT — The leaders of Syria and Saudi Arabia, once bitter rivals, made an unprecedented show of cooperation Friday, traveling together to Lebanon in hopes of preventing violence if members of a militant group are indicted in the 2005 assassination of a former Lebanese prime minister.
The unusual joint visit by Syrian President Bashar Assad and Saudi King Abdullah underscored the depth of Arab concern over potential chaos in Lebanon. Many people fear indictments of Hezbollah members could spark clashes between Lebanon’s Sunnis and Shiites, or that Hezbollah’s nemesis Israel could be pulled into a conflict, causing wider turmoil.
The summit also consecrated both countries’ roles as power brokers in the region, where Syria is an ally of Iran and Saudi Arabia generally supports the U.S.
Washington has long tried to uproot Syrian influence in Lebanon, but Syria and Saudi Arabia seem to have a fragile understanding, suggesting both see a greater interest in keeping Lebanon quiet after years of feuding over it.
“This is significant for two leaders who were fighting it out in Beirut just a few years ago,” said Paul Salem, director of the Carnegie Middle East Center in Beirut. “This indicates that they think this crisis is so big that they have to come themselves.”
The king and Assad walked side-by-side down the staircase from a Saudi jet at Beirut’s airport and entered talks with Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri, President Michel Suleiman and other officials.
The leader of Hezbollah, who rarely appears in public, did not take part, but Hezbollah Cabinet ministers were on hand.
Few details about the discussions emerged. Afterward, Assad gave reporters a thumbs-up and said, “It was an excellent summit,” as he left Lebanon’s presidential palace.
After Friday’s meeting, Lebanon, Syria and Saudi Arabia issued a joint statement that urged all parties to put Lebanon’s interests above all else and refrain from violence.
Conflict in context
The crisis in Lebanon centers on the international tribunal investigating the assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri, who died in a Valentine’s Day truck bombing in 2005. Indictments are expected this year.
The Netherlands-based tribunal has not said who will be charged, but the leader of Hezbollah said last week that he knows Hezbollah members will be among them. That could spark riots between the Sunni supporters of Hariri and Shiites who largely back Hezbollah. Many in Lebanon blame Syria for Hariri’s death, charges that Syria denies.
