Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Al-Shaibani said Syria is working to end the presence of weapons outside state authority [1].
This initiative represents a significant shift in Syria's approach to internal security and regional diplomacy. By targeting non-state armed groups, the government aims to centralize military power and reduce the influence of paramilitary factions that have operated independently for years.
Al-Shaibani said the announcement on July 2, 2026 [2], during an official visit to Beirut, Lebanon [2]. The visit was notable as his first to the Lebanese capital in 25 years [3].
During the trip, Al-Shaibani said that the goal of ending the presence of armed formations is to improve security, combat terrorism, and enhance the overall stability of the region [1]. He said that the move is a prerequisite for a more secure environment within Syrian borders.
"We are working to end the existence of weapons outside the authority of the state," Al-Shaibani said [1].
Beyond internal security, the minister highlighted the diplomatic intent behind the visit to Lebanon. He said that Syria is establishing a new phase of bilateral relations with its neighbor [4]. This diplomatic outreach coincides with the domestic push to dismantle non-state military structures.
"Ending armed formations enhances the stability of the region," Al-Shaibani said [1].
The Syrian government has not yet provided a specific timeline or a detailed roadmap for how these weapons will be collected, or how the groups currently holding them will be integrated or disarmed. However, the minister framed the process as essential for the state to regain full sovereignty over its territory.
"We are establishing with Lebanon a new stage of bilateral relations," Al-Shaibani said [4].
“"We are working to end the existence of weapons outside the authority of the state,"”
The Syrian government's push to eliminate non-state weaponry suggests a strategic move to consolidate power and signal a return to state-led stability. By announcing this in Beirut after a 25-year absence, Syria is likely attempting to leverage its internal security reforms to improve its standing with regional neighbors and potentially pave the way for broader diplomatic normalization.
