Syria (Lebanon-Report‪)‬

Internal and External Factors Make Syria guarantor of Stability in Lebanon More than five years after it was forced under local mass street protests and international pressure to withdraw its troops following the 2005 assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik al-Hariri, Syria appears to be regaining its influence in Lebanon with tacit Arab and international support. Before its military withdrawal in April 2005, Syria was the main power broker in Lebanon, playing a major role in the country's internal politics and external policies. It is no secret that Syria had the final say in the election of a president, a prime minister and a parliament speaker and also the formation of any Cabinet.