The Minister of Interior and Municipalities, Ahmed Al-Hajjar, received in his office the Syrian Assistant Minister of the Interior for Security Affairs, Brigadier General Mulham Al-Shantot, in the presence of the Chargé d'Affairs of the Syrian Embassy, ​​Iyad Al-Hazza, the Director of the International Cooperation Department, Colonel Abdul Rahim Jabara, and the Arab Affairs Officer, Lieutenant Colonel Alaa Abu Salim. During the meeting, the existing relations between the Ministries of Interior in Lebanon and Syria were reviewed, and ways to develop them and activate coordination between the two sides, in a way that achieves the common interest of the two countries and peoples, and enhances cooperation in various files of common interest. Part of the meeting was attended by the Secretary of the Central Internal Security Council, Brigadier General Sami Nassif, and representatives of the General Directorate of Internal Security Forces and the General Directorate of Public Security. The meeting discussed various aspects of security cooperation, and the importance of activating direct communication channels and exchanging information was stressed, especially in the field of combating terrorism, with the aim of confronting common security challenges. The two sides also stressed the importance of continuing to implement the plan for the return of displaced Syrians to their country, in accordance with the approved frameworks and existing coordination between the concerned authorities. The attendees discussed cooperation mechanisms at the border crossings to ensure the security of the two countries, and the issue of combating the smuggling of drugs, weapons and people, stressing the need to unify efforts and intensify field coordination to combat these cross-border crimes. At the conclusion of the meeting, the Lebanese and Syrian delegations agreed to continue communication and coordination, and to hold periodic meetings to follow up on the implementation of what was agreed upon, and to translate the understandings into practical steps that serve the common interest of Lebanon and Syria.