According to former Syrian Vice President Abdel Halim Khaddam’s memoirs edited and introduced by Al-Majalla Editor-in-Chief Ibrahim Hamidi, a July 2004 meeting in Damascus between former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and late Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri stands out as the harshest encounter preceding the latter’s assassination. Published by “Raff” house, an affiliate of Saudi Research and Marketing Group (SRMG), the memoirs detail how Assad summoned Hariri at 7:30 a.m. in the presence of Major General Ghazi Kanaan, Brigadier General Rustom Ghazaleh, and Colonel Mohammad Khlouf, with the intense confrontation causing Hariri’s blood pressure to spike and a nosebleed.
Roots of the Crisis Over Lebanon’s Presidency in 1998
The memoirs trace the origins of the political crisis back to the 1998 presidential election of Lebanese Army Commander General Émile Lahoud. According to Khaddam’s account, Bashar al-Assad forced Lahoud’s selection as successor to President Elias Hrawi after convincing his father, Hafez al-Assad, to back the army chief despite strong objections from prominent pro-Damascus Lebanese figures including Walid Jumblatt, Nabih Berri, and Rafik Hariri. Following pressure exerted on lawmakers by Major General Ghazi Kanaan, Khaddam requested that President Hafez relieve him of the Lebanon file due to his well-known opposition to Lahoud. Consequently, the file shifted entirely to Bashar al-Assad, marking the end of political management and leaving the complex portfolio firmly in the hands of Syrian security agencies.
Assad’s Direct Warning and Khaddam’s Intervention
On the morning of the tense July 2004 meeting, Khaddam met with an agitated and tense Bashar al-Assad, who recounted the encounter directly. According to the memoirs, Assad told Khaddam, “I had Rafik Hariri, and I spoke to him clearly and frankly in the presence of the officers. I informed him that it is not permissible for him to work toward bringing any president to the republic other than Émile Lahoud, for I am the one who chooses who rules Lebanon, and whoever opposes me, I will break his bones.” Khaddam expressed shock at the remarks, responding that Assad was speaking to Lebanon’s prime minister who represented Sunni Muslims, and questioned the potential media fallout of such threats made in front of security officers. Following this exchange, Assad reportedly calmed down and asked his deputy to invite Hariri back to smooth over the fallout.
Did You Know? Former Syrian Vice President Abdel Halim Khaddam’s memoirs reveal that the July 2004 confrontation between Bashar al-Assad and Rafik Hariri became so physically intense that the Lebanese prime minister suffered a nosebleed and a sharp spike in blood pressure.
Hariri’s Reluctance and the Later Extension Dispute
Initially, Hariri rejected returning to Damascus, telling Khaddam by phone that he would never visit again after his last experience. He eventually agreed to meet in Bloudan, northwest of Damascus, where he appeared deeply wounded and stated he would never forget the meeting. By August 18, 2004, Khaddam noted that Assad had briefly shifted positions, stating he decided against extending Lahoud’s term because no one in the world, including Arab states and the majority of Lebanese, agreed with it. However, just three days later while Khaddam was in France, Hariri called to report that Assad reversed course, summoning him to a short, tense interview demanding to know whether he stood with or against Syria.
Last-Minute Diplomatic Failure and UN Resolution 1559
The memoirs document a final, unsuccessful diplomatic effort to avert a UN Security Council showdown through Spanish mediation. Following five hours of talks, Washington, Paris, and London agreed to cancel an impending session in exchange for a Syrian commitment to drop the presidential term extension in Lebanon. However, Syrian Foreign Minister Farouk Al-Sharaa informed his Spanish counterpart that Lebanon was an independent state and Damascus had nothing to do with the matter. Consequently, the UN Security Council convened the following day and adopted Resolution 1559 under Chapter VII, placing the Syrian government under international monitoring.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who edited and published the memoirs of Abdel Halim Khaddam?
The memoirs were edited and introduced by Al-Majalla Editor-in-Chief Ibrahim Hamidi and published by “Raff” house, an affiliate of the Saudi Research and Marketing Group (SRMG).
Who was present during the July 2004 meeting between Bashar al-Assad and Rafik Hariri?
According to the text, the meeting took place in the presence of Major General Ghazi Kanaan, Brigadier General Rustom Ghazaleh, and Colonel Mohammad Khlouf.
What prompted the passage of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1559?
The resolution followed the collapse of a last-minute Spanish-led mediation effort after Syrian Foreign Minister Farouk Al-Sharaa declined involvement, leading the Security Council to convene and pass the measure under Chapter VII.
How do these newly revealed memoirs alter our historical understanding of the final months before the 2005 crisis in Lebanon?