---
title: "Syria formally welcomes Hezbollah-appointed minister Haidar"
description: "The Jerusalem Post reported that Labor Minister Mohammad Haidar, appointed with Hezbollah’s backing, entered Syria with three Lebanese ministers — the first formal Damascus welcome for a Hezbollah official since Assad’s fall."
url: "https://hasbara.co.il/enemies/hezbollah/hezbollah-2026-11-03-labor-minister-haidar-welcomed-in-damascus"
type: "collection-item"
locale: "en"
author: "Hasbara"
published: "2026-11-03T07:00:00.000Z"
updated: "2026-11-03 16:29:37"
tags: ["enemies"]
---

# Syria formally welcomes Hezbollah-appointed minister Haidar

*The Jerusalem Post reported that Labor Minister Mohammad Haidar, appointed with Hezbollah’s backing, entered Syria with three Lebanese ministers — the first formal Damascus welcome for a Hezbollah official since Assad’s fall.*

Hezbollah-appointed Labor Minister Mohammad Haidar visited Syria on Monday with three other Lebanese ministers, [the Jerusalem Post](https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/article-913693) reported on 3 November. The paper described the reception as the first time a Hezbollah official has been formally welcomed in Damascus since the fall of the Assad regime.

## Four ministers, one crossing, a Hezbollah seat at the table

Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani met the delegation after it crossed at Masnaa-Jdeidet Yabous, the same crossing closed in April over Israeli allegations that Hezbollah was using it to smuggle weapons. Lebanese Deputy Prime Minister Tarek Mitri, Education Minister Rima Karameh, and Social Development Minister Haneen Sayed joined Haidar. The Syrian Foreign Ministry said the talks covered Syrian refugees in Lebanon, trade agreements, and border security.

Damascus has accused Hezbollah of infringing on Syrian sovereignty, including September allegations that Iran-backed cells planned sabotage. Hezbollah fought for Assad during the civil war. A Hezbollah representative told *L’Orient Today* that Damascus was told in advance of Haidar’s background, and said, “We support anything that strengthens relations between the two countries.” Lebanese Ambassador to Damascus Henry Kastoun told *L’Orient* that a resurgence of ISIS or of former regime officers who may be in Lebanon was “not on the agenda.”

Haidar’s welcome is the protocol shift. A Hezbollah-backed cabinet minister walked through a crossing Israel says was a smuggling route, sat with Shaibani, and talked refugees, trade, and borders. Post-Assad Syria received him as a Lebanese minister. Hezbollah still had a man in the delegation.

## Sources

- [jpost.com](https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/article-913693)