Report: CIA Chief to Meet Israeli, Qatari Officials for Hostage Deal Talks

 Families and supporters of Israeli hostages held by Hamas in Gaza hold their photos and shout slogans at a rally calling for their return, in Tel Aviv, Israel, Saturday, Dec. 16, 2023. (AP)
Families and supporters of Israeli hostages held by Hamas in Gaza hold their photos and shout slogans at a rally calling for their return, in Tel Aviv, Israel, Saturday, Dec. 16, 2023. (AP)
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Report: CIA Chief to Meet Israeli, Qatari Officials for Hostage Deal Talks

 Families and supporters of Israeli hostages held by Hamas in Gaza hold their photos and shout slogans at a rally calling for their return, in Tel Aviv, Israel, Saturday, Dec. 16, 2023. (AP)
Families and supporters of Israeli hostages held by Hamas in Gaza hold their photos and shout slogans at a rally calling for their return, in Tel Aviv, Israel, Saturday, Dec. 16, 2023. (AP)

CIA chief Bill Burns will meet Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani and the head of Israel's Mossad spy agency in Warsaw on Monday to discuss a potential new deal to secure the release of Israeli hostages held by Hamas in Gaza, two US officials told Reuters.

Both officials spoke on customary condition of anonymity.

Earlier, the Axios news website had reported the meeting would take place, citing two US and Israeli officials.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu appeared to confirm on Saturday that new negotiations were under way to recover hostages held by Hamas after a source said Israel's intelligence chief met the prime minister of Qatar, a country mediating in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

A source with knowledge of the matter said that Mossad head David Barnea met Al Thani in Europe late on Friday.



Salam to Discuss Issue of Lebanese Missing in Syria during Damascus Visit

Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam lays a wreath at Martyrs' statue marking the 50th anniversary of the Lebanese civil war in downtown Beirut, Lebanon, Sunday, April 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Bilal Hussein)
Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam lays a wreath at Martyrs' statue marking the 50th anniversary of the Lebanese civil war in downtown Beirut, Lebanon, Sunday, April 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Bilal Hussein)
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Salam to Discuss Issue of Lebanese Missing in Syria during Damascus Visit

Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam lays a wreath at Martyrs' statue marking the 50th anniversary of the Lebanese civil war in downtown Beirut, Lebanon, Sunday, April 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Bilal Hussein)
Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam lays a wreath at Martyrs' statue marking the 50th anniversary of the Lebanese civil war in downtown Beirut, Lebanon, Sunday, April 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Bilal Hussein)

Lebanon’s Prime Minister Nawaf Salam visits Syria on Monday to discuss several pressing matters including the issue of Lebanese detainees missing in Syria.

Salam assured that the matter will top his talks during his visit to Damascus heading a ministerial delegation.

The delegation will discuss several matters of concern including the security of the borders between the countries, Lebanese detainees who disappeared in the prisons of the former Syrian regime, the return of Syrian refugees, in addition to the list of economic agreements between the two countries and ways to promote them, sources told Asharq al-Awsat.

Marking 50 years after Lebanon's civil war began, Salam placed a wreath at the Martyr’s statue in downtown Beirut. He affirmed that the issue of Lebanese who disappeared in Syrian prisons will be discussed during his visit to Syria. “I hope I will return to you with good news”, he said.

Praising the “unity” of the Lebanese people, Salam stated that “it is important for us that the Lebanese restore confidence in the state, and that they too take part in the reform process...our state is the only one that can protect us all with its army and the trust that can be reborn between the Lebanese and their state."

On the situation in south Lebanon, Salam said that Israel need not stay at five strategic points in south Lebanon over allegations that it needs to monitor Hezbollah’s actions, “we are in the times of satellites, anyone can know what is happening on the ground without occupying specific locations”.

In remarks he posted on his X account marking the civil war anniversary, Salam said: “On the 50th anniversary of the Lebanese civil war, we stand today not to open old wounds, but to draw lessons that must not be forgotten. All the (claimed) victories are fake, and all sides came out defeated from this war”. He stressed that the state must have monopoly over weapons.

“There can be no true state unless legitimate armed forces have the exclusive right to bear arms", he said.

Around 700 Lebanese people are thought by relatives to be held in Syria, taken during the three decades Syrian troops were in their country, many of them held for their political views.

Syrian officials of the regime of ousted President Bashar Assad have said that there were no more Lebanese prisoners in Syrian jails.