Israel and Syria conclude Russia-mediated prisoners swap

Israeli woman freed by Syria while Israel returned two shepherds to the Syria-controlled side of the Golan Heights.

Syria released an Israeli woman after Israel returned two shepherds to the Syrian-controlled side of the Golan Heights amid a Russian-mediated prisoner swap. The woman, who has not been publicly identified, had crossed the border into Syria several days ago, after which Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu approached Russian President Vladimir Putin in efforts to secure her release, Netanyahu’s office said. The young woman was on her way home, the Israeli prime minister’s office said on Thursday, following media reports that Russia mediated the prisoner swap.