Damascus signals willingness for Hezbollah talks if in Syria's national interest
Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani visits Beirut, clarifying Damascus' conditional openness to engaging directly with Hezbollah
Assessment
Syria's top diplomat is signaling a potential shift in posture toward Hezbollah, but only on terms that prioritize Syrian sovereignty. The visit to Beirut and the conditional language suggest Damascus is testing how much leverage it holds. The key question is whether Hezbollah will accept talks framed by Syria's national interest, or whether this is a prelude to friction.