The last Syrian troops officially left Lebanon Tuesday, ending a military occupation that lasted 29 years. Syrian soldiers left after strong international and domestic pressure was put on Damascus following the February assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik al-Hariri.

As they left, Syrian forces flashed 'V' for victory signs. As the Syrian forces left at the Lebanese-Syrian border, a Syrian commander told Lebanese troops, 'Brothers in arms, so long,' and the Lebanese soldiers responded, 'So long.'

The Lebanese commander then responded, 'Brothers in arms, thank you for your sacrifices.' His soldiers repeated, 'Thank you for your sacrifices.'

The final pullout of intelligence troops took place Tuesday as well. Major General Rustom Ghazali joined 10 carloads of intelligence agents and the remaining 250 soldiers as Syrian forces left Lebanon before the upcoming election scheduled for the end of May.

Syria still has a lot of influence in Lebanon. The present prime minister, Najib Mikati, is a pro-Syrian politician. He is not as hard line as predecessors and so the anti-Syrian factions were willing to support him as a compromise prime minister to rule over a caretaker government until the completion of elections next month.

Syrian Chief of Staff General Ali Habib made the outrageous claim that Syria had no 'ambitions in Lebanon, except to protect it.' Habib criticized the United States, saying, 'Anyone who thinks that the history of people can be eliminated by statements made by this or that state is mistaken.'

A UN team of observers were present to witness the full Syrian withdrawal. After 29 years, the Syrian military occupation of Lebanon appears to be over. How much influence Damascus will maintain over the new Lebanese government remains to be seen.