Lebanon, Syria sign deal to transfer 300 Syrian prisoners: What we know
Lebanon and Syria signed a deal to transfer more than 300 convicted Syrians held in Lebanese prisons to their home country to complete their sentences.
BEIRUT — Lebanon and Syria signed an agreement on Friday to transfer more than 300 Syrian convicts from Lebanese prisons to their home country to serve out their sentences, signaling a thaw in relations after decades of strained ties.
What happened: The agreement was signed in Beirut by Lebanese Deputy Prime Minister Tarek Mitri and Syrian Justice Minister Mazhar al-Wais following months of negotiations and reciprocal visits.
Speaking at a joint press conference afterward, Mitri said the deal is the result of “a shared political will that shows that Lebanese-Syrian relations are based on trust and mutual respect in every sense of the word, and on a sincere desire for cooperation between two countries that are linked by intertwined relations.”
He added that the transfers would begin on Saturday and said only those currently serving prison sentences would be transported to Syria, with a separate agreement affecting pre-trial detainees to be discussed next.
