Lebanon and Syria ink deal on prisoner handover

Lebanon and Syria sign a prisoner handover agreement, marking a significant step toward improving bilateral relations.

Lebanon inked an agreement with Syria on Friday (February 6, 2026) to hand some 300 convicts over to Damascus, a move seen as key to helping turn a new page in ties between the countries.

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

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

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

Lebanese Deputy Prime Minister Tarek Mitri and Syrian Justice Minister Mazhar al-Wais announced the signing of the agreement at a press conference in Beirut.

Wais called it "an important step on the path to justice in addressing the situation of convicts who have spent a long time in prison and whose cases were among the most complex legally".