Prisoner swap: 2,130 prisoner and 4 Turkish Pilots for 48 Iranian ‘pilgrims’

An image grab taken from a video uploaded on YouTube on October 4, 2012 and released by Al-Baraa Brigade shows an unidentified Syrian rebel standing in front of 30 hostages who the brigade said are Iranian prisoners at an unidentified location in Syria. (AFP Photo/YouTube)

Syrian rebels have released 48 Iranian hostages held captive since last August as part of a prisoner swap in Damascus, according to Iranian state TV. In return for the hostages Syria will release 2,130 rebel prisoners and 4 Turkish pilots. Beforehand Turkish FM denied the detention of 4 turkis Pilots. Despite many news about the detention of turkish Pilots, the Turkkish media and officials covered the events.
The Syrian government has yet to confirm the release of the Iranian hostages.

Turkish aid organization, Humanitarian Relief Foundation(HRF) reported on the prison exchange on Wednesday morning and said the Assad government was preparing to release 2,130 ‘civilians.’
“Most of the prisoners to be swapped are Syrian citizens in exchange for Iranians, and there are a few Turks as well,” IHH member Osman Atalay told Reuters. The non-profit group has previously been involved in the release of Turkish and Syrian citizens in Syria.
Turkish state news said that the hostage handover deal was brokered by Turkey and Qatar.
Iran has previously stated that it has not sent any military enforcements into Syria and that President Assad has not requested military aid from them.