ANKARA

The presidents of France, Lebanon, and Syria on Friday held an online meeting during which they discussed the issues related to the Syrian refugees in Lebanon and the coordination to control the Lebanon-Syria borders.

According to the Lebanese state news agency NNA, Lebanese President Joseph Aoun stressed the necessity of coordination between Lebanon and Syria to address “outstanding issues, especially the issue of the joint border."

He also affirmed the "need to benefit from French assistance to find a swift solution to the issue of the return of displaced Syrians to their homeland so that they can live in dignity."

"Any obstacles or difficulties (between Lebanon and Syria) can be resolved through cooperation," NNA quoted Aoun as saying.

The Lebanese president met with his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron in Paris, during his first overseas visit to a Western country since he became president on Jan. 9.

On Thursday, the defense ministers of Syria and Lebanon signed a strategic agreement on border security during a meeting held in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

The agreement aims to enhance cooperation between the two neighboring countries in response to recent tensions and deadly clashes along their shared border.

Tensions flared between the two countries last week after Syria’s Defense Ministry accused the Lebanese group Hezbollah of abducting and killing three soldiers. While Damascus promised “all necessary measures” against the “dangerous escalation.” Hezbollah denied involvement.

Syria’s government aims to tighten security and reinforce control on its borders, including with Lebanon, targeting drug smugglers and remnants of the former regime that have been stirring unrest.