Assad defends presence of Hezbollah fighters in Syria

Because until 1920, we were a single territorial unit incorporating the region known as al-Sham. The administrative subdivision under the Ottomans divided parts of modern Syria and Lebanon concurrently. The French split Lebanon artificially from Syria in order to divide and conquer as they believed a Christian (Maronite Catholic) majority mini-state would be at constant war with a majority Moslem (Sunni) state that controlled the smaller country's borders.

There was never an iron-clad border between the two. People of both modern states were free to travel between only requiring a stop at the border to get a stamp. Lebanese would travel to Syria every weekend to shop. Syrian migrant workers would come to Lebanon to work and send money back to their families. People tended to marry fellow Shamis over outsiders. This open border was only inconvenienced in 2005 and 2011. The Lebanese economy absolutely depends on Syria as the Syrian border encompasses Lebanon entirely save for the southern border which is closed due to the war with Israel. Shipping is too expensive, so all produce grown in Lebanon is shipped by truck to and through Syria. Syrian manufactured goods are sold in Lebanon; a lot of the clothes I own are Syrian made.

Our cultures are nearly identical. The food, the dancing, the accents and dialect are all nearly identical. Arabic is called a single language with different mutually unintelligible dialects; Arabic is really akin to the Romance languages in its relations to its own dialects.

Pan-Arab nationalism was revived by a Lebanese Christian seeking to reunite with Syria. The Syrian Socialist National Party is a relevant party in both Lebanon and Syria advocating for the reunification of the two countries. Quite a lot of people on the street believe in the unity of Lebanon and Syria.

People vacationed in the other country very frequently and to see the sights. Syria occupied Lebanon for decades after the Christian dominated government was threatened to be overthrown a Leftist Druze and Palestinian coalition.

The question of Lebanon's allegiance is the central question that defines Lebanese politics. Lebanese politicians and businesses are inevitably tied to (former) Syrian patronage. The remnants of Syria's presence pre-2005 still remain and are quite influential. The ever-waging mini-war in Tripoli is between Syrian-aligned Alawites and Saudi-aligned Salafist Sunnis.

Lebanon is indebted to Syria for its help in the empowerment of Hezbollah to resist Israeli aggression.

Politically, economically, and religiously we are the little brother to big brother Syria.

Challenge: Defeat a Lebanese in an argument about Lebanon. Silly Americans.

/r/syriancivilwar Thread Parent Link - aljazeera.com