Report: UAE to release Lebanese detainees before Eid

The head of Hezbollah’s Coordination and Liaison Committee, Wafiq Safa, returned Thursday to Beirut from the UAE after he held talks there related to the repatriation of a number of Lebanese detainees.

“Safa’s return alone to Beirut does not mean that he has failed in his mission, seeing as the issue is related to official procedures that must be carried out in order to release the prisoners,” the Nidaa al-Watan newspaper reported on Friday.

“The UAE is expected to issue a governmental decree on Ramadan 24 (in two weeks from now) that will grant these Lebanese a general amnesty that will be implemented within two days so that these released detainees can be in Beirut during Eid al-Fitr,” the daily added.

The Lebanese nationals had been detained over alleged links to Hezbollah.

The United Arab Emirates, like other Arab gulf countries, considers Hezbollah a “terrorist” organization and over the years has detained and deported dozens of Lebanese citizens over alleged links to the group.

Lebanese media outlets reported that Safa's visit followed mediation by Syrian President Bashar Assad with officials in the UAE. After years of backing the Syrian opposition, the UAE restored relations with Damascus in 2018 and earlier this year the first ambassador for the emirates took office in Damascus.