Lebanon receives 4 more detainees from Israel in Red Cross-mediated handover
Lebanon on Friday received four prisoners released by Israel through the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). An Anadolu correspondent reported that an ICRC convoy headed to Ras al-Naqoura on the border and received the four detainees from the Israeli side. The convoy then transferred the freed prisoners to the Mansouri area south of the city of Tyre, where they were handed over to the Lebanese army. Lebanese President Joseph Aoun said the release of the first batch of detainees held by Israel “renews confirmation of the usefulness of Lebanon’s firm position.” His remarks came after Israel released five prisoners on Thursday and Friday and transferred them to Lebanon with facilitation from the ICRC. Aoun praised the efforts that led to the release, particularly those of the US under President Donald Trump, as well as the role of international parties involved in the process, especially the ICRC. He congratulated the freed prisoners and their families, stressing that Lebanon would continue working to achieve its “full national demands and goals.” Aoun said the step must be followed by completing the measures required under the trilateral framework. “Those steps should lead to the restoration of full Lebanese sovereignty, not lacking an inch of our land and not missing a single person from our people,” the president said. A day earlier, Lebanon received one Lebanese prisoner from Israel through the Red Cross, a senior Lebanese military source told Anadolu. Israel’s public broadcaster KAN identified the released prisoner as Malik Kamal Ghazi, saying he had been detained by Israeli forces in Ain Ata in southern Lebanon in October 2025. Ghazi was handed over to the Red Cross at the Naqoura crossing and later transferred to the Lebanese army for medical examinations, KAN said. Israeli Channel 12 reported Thursday that Israel was expected to release five prisoners and hand them over to Lebanon as part of US-coordinated talks with Beirut. There is no official number of Lebanese prisoners held by Israel, but the Lebanese Association for Prisoners and Freed Prisoners published a list on Aug. 26 naming 36 Lebanese detainees, including civilians, farmers, fishermen, volunteers, and fighters.