BEIRUT: Lebanon's Defense Minister Fayez Ghosn met Monday with Syrian President Bashar Assad in Damascus to discuss cooperation and coordination between the countries’ armies, SANA reported.

Assad praised the efforts of the Lebanese army and its coordination with its Syrian counterpart in controlling the Syria-Lebanon border. The president said such efforts had succeeded in thwarting many arms smuggling operations that targeted security and stability in both countries, the Syrian state news agency said.

Media reports have surfaced in recent months of weapons being smuggled from Lebanon to Syria, implying that elements in Lebanon have been supporting the uprising over the border. On April 13, Future Movement MP Jamal Jarrah was accused by Syria of financing and supplying arms to protesters there. Jarrah has denied the allegation.

Prime Minister Najib Mikati’s government, dominated by Syria’s allies in the March 8 alliance, has repeatedly said that Lebanon will remain neutral regarding the anti-government uprising in its neighboring country. Mikati has also said Lebanon cannot be placed in confrontation with the international community.

The Hezbollah-led March 8 coalition has said that the uprising in Syria is part of a conspiracy aimed at targeting the country, adding that Syria and Lebanon’s stability are interdependent. Meanwhile the March 14 coalition has condemned the violence and expressed sympathy with the Syrian people.

Lebanon disassociated itself after the fact from a United Nations Security Council presidential statement issued on Aug. 3 condemning the violent crackdown in Syria.