Lebanon-Syria Prisoner Transfer Deal Masks Deeper Diplomatic Games

In a move that seemingly aims to smooth diplomatic tensions, Lebanon and Syria recently signed an agreement transferring over 300 Syrian prisoners detained in Lebanese jails back to their home country. The deal, signed by Lebanon’s Deputy Prime Minister Tarek Mitri and Syria’s Justice Minister Mazhar al-Wais in Beirut, is being hailed as a first step toward improving fractured relations between neighbors long divided by history and conflict. But beneath the surface of this handshake lies a complex web of geopolitical concerns with direct implications for America’s national security and Middle East strategy. How exactly does empowering the Assad regime...