The years before had seen increased sectarian violence in Iraq, with fighting between Shia and Sunni Muslims as well as the persecution of religious minorities.

The message that day was unity, of one Syria, without sectarian division.

The foreign ministers from eight Arab countries that did attend the meeting said they wanted to ensure that Syria was unified and not split along sectarian lines.

The latter refers to the sectarian bloodletting that followed Iraqi strongman Saddam Hussein’s removal.

That would put Lebanese against Lebanese, which is always a risk in a country where sectarian divisions run deep.