March 12, 2025

Linking Northern and Central NJ, Bronx, Manhattan, Westchester and CT

PMO: Israel to Release Five Lebanese In ‘Gesture’ to Washington, Beirut

(JNS) Israel has agreed to release five Lebanese detained during operations against Iranian-backed Hezbollah terrorists in Southern Lebanon, the Prime Minister’s Office in Jerusalem confirmed on Tuesday afternoon, March 11.

Earlier on Tuesday, “a quadrilateral meeting was held in Naqoura, Lebanon, with the participation of IDF representatives, as well as representatives from the U.S., France and Lebanon,” the PMO said.

They agreed to “establish three joint working groups aimed at stabilizing the region and will focus on the following issues: the five points Israel controls in Southern Lebanon; discussions on the Blue Line [de facto border] and points that remain in dispute; and the issue of Lebanese detainees held by Israel,” according to the statement from Jerusalem.

“In coordination with the U.S. and as a gesture to the new Lebanese president, Israel agreed to release five Lebanese detainees,” it added.

The statement did not name the individuals set for release and whether or not they were members of the Hezbollah terror group. According to Al-Jazeera, a team from the International Committee of the Red Cross was on its way to transfer the prisoners to Lebanon.

In an interview with Lebanon’s Al-Jadeed television channel shortly before the PMO issued its statement, Morgan Ortagus, U.S. deputy special envoy to the Mideast, confirmed that a “civilian working group” was launched to address diplomatic issues between Israel and Lebanon.

Ortagus said the United States was working on making the Lebanese Armed Forces the sole authority in Hezbollah-dominated Southern Lebanon.

Leave a Comment

Most Popular Articles