Syrian Regime, Opposition Exchange Prisoners

A photo provided by Syrian opposition factions in northern Syria shows five prisoners they received as part of an exchange deal with Damascus.
A photo provided by Syrian opposition factions in northern Syria shows five prisoners they received as part of an exchange deal with Damascus.
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Syrian Regime, Opposition Exchange Prisoners

A photo provided by Syrian opposition factions in northern Syria shows five prisoners they received as part of an exchange deal with Damascus.
A photo provided by Syrian opposition factions in northern Syria shows five prisoners they received as part of an exchange deal with Damascus.

The Ankara-backed Syrian National Army (SNA) and Damascus exchanged a number of prisoners on Monday under the supervision of the International Committee of the Red Cross and guarantees from Turkey and Russia.

Activists in the city of Al-Bab, which is nestled 40 km northeast of Aleppo, confirmed that the SNA conducted a new prisoner exchange operation with the Syrian regime forces at the Abu Al-Zandin crossing.

Abu Al-Zandin separates the spheres of influence of the Turkey-backed opposition and the Russia-backed regime forces.

Five detainees were released from each side, according to local sources.

The swap took place after negotiations between the two parties that lasted for more than three months, an opposition source told Asharq Al-Awsat.

The last exchange took place on December 12, 2021, during which five prisoners were released from each side at the same crossing.

In other news, new military reinforcements have been deployed to contact lines in northern Aleppo.

Backup arrived for both the SNA, Iranian militias, and the Kurdish Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF).

Reinforcements are being sent in anticipation of a new Turkish military operation against the SDF.

Iran sent reinforcements to two Shiite settlements northwest of Aleppo.

Observers believe that the reinforcements Iran is pushing to the contact lines with the opposition factions and the Turkish forces north of Aleppo are a clear and direct intervention.



Lebanon Ministry Says Two Dead in Israeli Strike on South

28 March 2025, Lebanon, Khiam: Heavy smoke billows from areas that were bombed by Israeli Forces in the southern Lebanese border town of Khiam. (dpa)
28 March 2025, Lebanon, Khiam: Heavy smoke billows from areas that were bombed by Israeli Forces in the southern Lebanese border town of Khiam. (dpa)
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Lebanon Ministry Says Two Dead in Israeli Strike on South

28 March 2025, Lebanon, Khiam: Heavy smoke billows from areas that were bombed by Israeli Forces in the southern Lebanese border town of Khiam. (dpa)
28 March 2025, Lebanon, Khiam: Heavy smoke billows from areas that were bombed by Israeli Forces in the southern Lebanese border town of Khiam. (dpa)

Lebanon's health ministry said two people were killed Sunday in an Israeli strike on the country's south, as Israel said it hit Hezbollah operatives amid a fragile truce.

The toll in the "strike launched by the Israeli enemy on the town of Zibqin rose to two dead", the health ministry said in a statement, adding that the toll was final after earlier reporting one dead.

The Israeli military said it carried out an air strike targeting two Hezbollah operatives in the Zibqin area, adding in a statement that they were "attempting to rebuild Hezbollah terror infrastructure sites".

A fragile ceasefire in late November largely halted more than a year of hostilities between Israel and the Iran-backed Hezbollah group, but Israel has continued to carry out strikes in Lebanon.

The latest raid came after visiting US deputy special envoy for the Middle East Morgan Ortagus discussed the situation in south Lebanon with senior officials on Saturday.

On Friday, Israel killed a commander of Palestinian group Hamas in a pre-dawn raid in the south Lebanese port city of Sidon that also killed his adult son and daughter.

A day earlier, Israel's military said it carried out an air strike targeting a Hezbollah member in south Lebanon.

On Tuesday, Israel struck south Beirut, killing a Hezbollah Palestinian liaison officer, in only the second raid on the capital since the November 27 ceasefire.

Lebanon's health ministry reported four dead in that strike, including a woman.

Under the truce, Hezbollah was to redeploy its forces north of the Litani River, about 30 kilometers (20 miles) from the Israeli border, and dismantle any remaining military infrastructure in the south.

Israel was to withdraw its forces across the UN-demarcated Blue Line, the de facto border, but has missed two deadlines to do so and continues to hold five positions in south Lebanon that it deems "strategic".