Lebanon transfers 137 Syrian prisoners under bilateral agreement

Lebanon transferred more than 130 Syrian detainees to their home country on Tuesday, a Lebanese judicial official told AFP, as part of an agreement the two sides signed in February.

Overcrowded Lebanese prisons host more than 2,200 Syrians held on various charges.

Many of them are still awaiting trial, while hundreds have been brought before military courts on charges of "terrorism" or related offences, including attacks on Lebanese forces.

Others are in custody for alleged membership in jihadist or armed groups that were opposed to now ousted Syrian president Bashar al-Assad, who was supported by Lebanon's Hezbollah group during the Syrian civil war.

"One hundred and six convicted inmates were released from Roumieh Prison (north of Beirut), in addition to 31 others from Qobbeh Prison in Tripoli (north)," the official told AFP.

"The convoy headed to the Masnaa crossing to hand them over to the Syrian side," the official added.

This is the first batch of prisoners to be transferred under an agreement signed between the two countries in February, which will cover almost 300 convicts who have served 10 years or more in Lebanese prisons.

Under the agreement, they will be required to complete the remainder of their sentences in Syria.

The issue of the detainees had been a sticking point in Beirut-Damascus relations following the overthrow of the former Assad government in December 2024.

Over the past year, both sides have repeatedly expressed their determination to open a new chapter in bilateral ties following the ouster of Assad.