Lebanon must stay out of Syria’s war, says top sunni cleric

Sunday 20 July 2025 - 14:30

In a statement released on Sunday, Lebanon’s Grand Mufti Abdellatif Deriane firmly declared that Dar el-Fatwa will not allow Lebanon to be dragged into sectarian conflict. His remarks came during a phone conversation with Lebanese Army Commander General Rodolphe Haykal, as reported by the official National News Agency (ANI).

The conversation took place amid rising fears that sectarian violence in neighboring Syria — particularly recent clashes between Druze fighters and Sunni Bedouin tribes in the Soueida region — could spill over into Lebanon. A new ceasefire was declared on Saturday, and relative calm had returned by Sunday.

Both leaders emphasized the crucial role of the Lebanese Army in preserving internal stability. Mufti Deriane insisted that Lebanon must remain neutral in the face of Syrian unrest, asserting that Syria is capable of managing its internal affairs. He reiterated the importance of national unity and cautioned against external interference: “We must not interfere in the affairs of others, nor allow others to interfere in ours.”

Deriane also praised the Lebanese Armed Forces for fulfilling their national duty, stressing that the authority of the state and its laws must be upheld across all Lebanese territory. On Friday, he met with Druze spiritual leader Sheikh Akl Sami Abi el-Mona, and both religious figures warned of the dangers of falling into the “trap of sectarian strife.”

In a separate statement, the Lebanese army assured the public that it will not tolerate any threats to national security or civil peace.