Lebanon too offered support for a political settlement in Syria, one not conditioned on the removal of allegedly Iran-backed forces or the government in Damascus, with which Beirut maintained ties. Tuesday's joint Lebanese-Russia statement affirmed Aoun and Putin's support for the Russia-Iran-Turkey talks, as well as "the efforts taken by the Syrian Arab Republic authorities and its allies to combat terrorism as represented by ISIS, the Nusra Front and their affiliated groups."
Amal Abou Zeid—a former member of parliament affiliated with Aoun and Bassil's majority-Maronite Christian Free Patriotic Movement—called the first top-level Lebanese delegation to Moscow since Aoun took the presidency in 2016 a "success," in a commentary published Wednesday by Moscow's Valdai Discussion Club. He added that his "positive reception underscores that Russo-Lebanese relations are grounded in mutual understanding and that Lebanon is very appreciative of Russia’s engagement in Middle Eastern affairs."
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