In the last few days, the Lebanese authorities have arrested dozens of officers, soldiers and supporters of the deposed president and handed them over to the new government in Damascus. However, many of the former regime's key figures have managed to flee abroad from Beirut airport.

The Syrian foreign ministry ordered the suspension because two of the deposed president's relatives allegedly had passports forged at the embassy.

Lebanese authorities have handed over dozens of Syrians — including former officers in the Syrian army under Assad — to the new Syrian government.

Syria's embassy in Lebanon suspended consular services Saturday, a day after two relatives of deposed Syrian President Bashar Assad were arrested at the Beirut airport with reportedly forged passports.

Meanwhile, Lebanese authorities handed over dozens of Syrian nationals, including former officers in the army, to the new administration in Damascus after they were caught illegally entering Lebanon.V