Hezbollah captives may be freed as part of deal involving Israeli-Russian researcher

There is an available chance to reactivate the file of the release of Lebanese captives held by Israel in conjunction with the expected release of Israeli-Russian researcher Elizabeth Tsurkov, who was kidnapped by Iraq in 2023 by the Iran-backed Ketaeb Hezbollah group, which is not linked to Lebanon’s Hezbollah, Western diplomatic sources said.

The sources told Asharq al-Awsat newspaper that Hezbollah’s leadership prepared a list containing the names of 15 Lebanese captives, of whom seven were captured during the latest Israel-Hezbollah war and eight were detained during the ceasefire period.

The daily added that the deal also involves an Iranian citizen and a Palestinian national.

Sky News had reported Saturday that an agreement was reached to exchange prisoners between Iraq, Iran and Israel, which involves “Hezbollah members, a Lebanese sea captain, an Israeli-Russian academic and an Iranian citizen.”