ISTANBUL

Lebanese caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati is scheduled to visit neighboring Syria on Saturday to meet with Ahmed al-Sharaa, the country's new leader.

Mikati will visit Damascus on al-Sharaa's invitation, the Lebanese official news agency NNA reported, without providing any additional information.

The development comes as both neighboring countries have seen dramatic developments, including Lebanon's election of a new president on Thursday after two years of deadlock and Syria's new administration, which took power on Dec. 8 after forcing Bashar al-Assad to flee to Russia, ending the six-decade Baath Party regime.

On Jan. 3, Mikati and al-Sharaa spoke on the phone and agreed to restore calm at their borders following a border security incident.

The Lebanon-Syria border stretches 375 kilometers (233 miles), having rugged terrain with many areas lacking clear demarcation. While there are six official border crossings, the region remains porous, with frequent activity on unauthorized routes.

*Writing by Ahmed Asmar