Decades of Syrian Domination Fuel Lebanon’s Struggle for Sovereignty

For decades, Lebanon has lived under the shadow of Syria’s heavy hand, with Damascus treating its smaller neighbor less as a sovereign nation and more as an extension of its own ambitions. This dynamic not only destabilizes the region but also threatens America’s interests in securing a stable Middle East that respects national sovereignty and freedom. Why Does Syrian Influence Still Poison Lebanon’s Future? The bitter legacy begins with Hafez Assad's military intervention in 1976 "to bring peace" during Lebanon's civil war — yet his forces never truly left until international pressure forced a withdrawal in 2005 after nearly three...