Israel releases first of five Lebanese prisoners

armed conflict

Israel will release five Lebanese civilians captured during the war in southern Lebanon. According to the office of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the decision follows interrogations that found the detainees had no links to militant groups or terror organizations.

The release is in exchange for recent assistance provided by Beirut in locating the bodies of missing Lebanese Jewish leaders who were killed in the 1980s. Among those being freed is Malek Ghazi, who is the first Lebanese citizen held by Israel to be set free since talks began.

This move comes as struggling talks aimed at disarming Hezbollah and ending Israel's invasion remain stalled.

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