In addition, Syria controlled Lebanon for thirty years up until 2005, so it no surprise that Lebanon fears that Syria is trying to reassert control by placing troops along the Lebanese border. Such a precedent explains why Hariri says Syria’s actions are a direct threat to Lebanese sovereignty, which has only recently been established. Syria’s support of Russia’s recent invasion of its former territory Georgia also caused Lebanon to fear that Syria may justify similar action in Lebanon. Syria has made clear through accusations of Lebanon’s inability to control extremism in its northern region and by fortifying the Syrian-Lebanon border that it does not believe Lebanon can sustain itself outside of Syrian control. Should Syria attempt to reclaim its control of Lebanon, the balance of power of the entire region would shift, and the fears of surrounding nations such as Iraq may increase with the possibility of Syria further exerting its power upon additional nations weakened by internal struggle.

Following on the heels of the Damascus bombing, Assad’s comment regarding Lebanon as a security threat to Syria because it harbors extremists insinuates that Syria blames Lebanon for the attack. The subsequent bombing in Tripoli may be viewed as a tit for tat strategy from Syria, as the Lebanese military was targeted in the attack. Regardless, both nations feel threatened, and therefore are increasing their security; Syria militarized its borders, and President Sleiman of Lebanon called for defining defense strategy. With diplomatic relations between the two countries only initiated in July, Syria appears to be attempting to prevent such relations that would put Syria and Lebanon on the same level, while Syria prefers to regard itself as dominant to Lebanon.