11 Lebanese Visitors Abducted in Syria Released

A group of Lebanese visitors kidnapped in Aleppo, Syria earlier this week were freed on Friday and arrived in Turkey, Lebanese Health Minister Ali Hassan Khalil said, as Turkish Foreign Minister  confirmed the news to Prime Minister Najib Miqati, the National News Agency reported.

“We have received confirmation that they have been freed. They have arrived in Turkey and should return home today,” said Khalil.

On Tuesday, Lebanon’s state news agency said the pilgrims were abducted in northern Syria as they made their way home from their visit to holy places in Iran.

Lebanese Foreign Minister Adnan Mansour said the released Lebanese will arrive in Beirut’s International Airport this evening.

Their arrival is expected to be at 19:00 local time.

Head of Syria’s Ahrar Party Ibrahim al-Zohby confirmed the release and said that the liberated Lebanese have been handed to Turkish authorities, adding they were released without any conditions.

Speaker Nabih Berri received a telephone call from former PM Saad Hariri confirming the development.

The visitors are expected to be transported from Turkey to Lebanon on board Hariri’s private jet.

Celebratory gunshots were fired in Dahiyeh region upon hearing the news of the release.

A public reception is being organized at Beirut’s airport highway to greet the released men.

The visitors were freed on May 25, the day which is celebrated in Lebanon each year marking the Zionist withdrawal from southern Lebanon in the year 2000.

The release of pilgrims coincides with the national festival organized by Hezbollah in the liberated southern village of Bent Jbeil, where Hezbollah Secretary General delivered a speech on the occasion welcoming the efforts exerted to ensure their safe release.