Lebanon, Syria sign prisoner transfer agreement

BEIRUT, Lebanon (MNTV) — Lebanon and Syria have signed a landmark agreement to transfer hundreds of Syrian detainees from Lebanese prisons to serve the remainder of their sentences in Syria, in what officials described as a major breakthrough in bilateral judicial cooperation.

The accord, finalized after months of legal and technical negotiations, covers the repatriation of around 300 Syrian prisoners, many of whom have been held in Lebanon for more than a decade. 

Transfers are set to begin in phases starting Saturday and must be completed within three months, according to the agreement.

Under the framework, detainees may be moved to Syria only with written consent, allowing them to continue serving their sentences in their home country. 

The agreement takes immediate effect and is designed to bypass lengthy bureaucratic procedures that have historically delayed similar arrangements.

The deal was negotiated through six consecutive sessions of a joint Lebanese-Syrian committee co-chaired by the justice ministers of both countries. 

Lebanese officials said it reflects a broader shift in relations between Beirut and Damascus, long strained by political tensions and the legacy of Syria’s military presence in Lebanon, which ended in 2005.

Lebanon’s overcrowded prison system has been under increasing strain, with officials estimating that around 2,500 additional Syrian detainees remain in custody awaiting final verdicts. 

Judicial sources say many of these cases are stalled due to court delays, limited resources, and overlapping security concerns.

According to Arab News, Syrian Justice Minister Mazhar Al-Wais described the agreement as a complex but necessary step toward addressing prolonged detention and improving prisoner conditions. 

He said the deal demonstrated a shared political will to rebuild cooperation based on trust and mutual respect, adding that discussions were underway to review other unresolved detention cases.

Lebanese Deputy Prime Minister Tariq Mitri said the agreement had received unanimous cabinet approval and signaled an opportunity to redefine Lebanese-Syrian relations on “new foundations based on equality and mutual respect,” moving away from past practices shaped by coercion rather than law.

Lebanese Information Minister Paul Morcos said the prisoner transfers would significantly reduce pressure on the country’s prison system and could open the door to future mechanisms addressing detention conditions more broadly.

The signing ceremony at the government palace was attended by Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, senior ministers from both countries, and judicial officials, underscoring the political weight attached to the agreement.

Separately, discussions on security and sovereignty continued as French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot held talks in Beirut ahead of a March 5 international conference in Paris aimed at supporting the Lebanese armed forces. 

Barrot reiterated France’s position that Lebanon should function as a strong sovereign state with a monopoly on arms, emphasizing the role of the Lebanese Army in maintaining stability.