Syria’s presidential adviser told Al Arabiya on Friday, October 10 Mehr that reports about Damascus’ contact with Lebanon’s Hezbollah are “completely incorrect,” and that the Syrian government negotiates with this country only through the Lebanese government.

He said: “The era of militias has ended and there is no place for them anymore.”

He added that Damascus’ approach toward Lebanon is supporting the government of that country and keeping decision-making authority in the hands of the government.

The Syrian presidential adviser also said that Syria has previously paid the costs of getting close to armed groups outside the framework of Lebanon’s government, and that some parties are publishing incorrect reports about Damascus’ ties with Hezbollah.