Beirut: Lebanon and Syria have reached an agreement to transfer over 300 Syrian prisoners from Lebanese prisons to Damascus. This move aims to address the long-standing issue of Syrian detainees in Lebanon.

According to Anadolu Agency, the agreement was announced by Lebanese Deputy Prime Minister Tarek Mitri at a joint press conference in Beirut with Syrian Justice Minister Mazhar Al-Wais. Implementation of the agreement is set to begin on Saturday. Mitri emphasized that the deal, which involves the handover of sentenced prisoners, demonstrates a shared political will between Beirut and Damascus to rebuild bilateral relations based on mutual trust and respect.

Mitri further elaborated that the agreement is a practical step toward resolving the issue of Syrian inmates held in Lebanon, especially those detained during the years of the Syrian conflict. Meanwhile, Al-Wais stated that Damascus is preparing a phased plan to address the cases of detainees not included in the current agreement. He highlighted that the file of Syrian prisoners is complex and cannot be resolved through a single arrangement, but this agreement is an important step toward justice for sentenced prisoners and lays the foundation for continued coordination between the two nations.

On October 10, 2025, Damascus announced an agreement with Beirut to hand over Syrian detainees not convicted of murder, following a visit to Lebanon by a delegation led by Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani. Official estimates suggest that there are around 2,500 Syrians held in Lebanese prisons, constituting roughly one-third of Lebanon's total prison population.

On November 20, 2025, Mitri visited Syria, where he met with President Ahmad al-Sharaa and other senior officials. This visit was part of renewed diplomatic engagement aimed at addressing outstanding issues and strengthening bilateral cooperation following the fall of the Assad regime in late 2024.