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Syrian Rebels Release Iranian Captives In Prison Swap

Chima Simone |
January 9, 2013 | 2:11 p.m. PST

Executive Producer

Louay Moqdad, a Free Syrian Army spokesman, said dozens of women and children were among the prisoners released by the government. Photo, Syrian flag.
Louay Moqdad, a Free Syrian Army spokesman, said dozens of women and children were among the prisoners released by the government. Photo, Syrian flag.
The Syrian government and the rebels fighting against it carried out a massive prisoner swap Wednesday, with the government releasing 2,130 mostly Syrian captives in exchange for 48 Iranians who had been seized by rebel forces, reports The Washington Post.

The first of it's large scale in the 21-month war, the prisoner exchange was brokered by the governments of Turkey and Qatar as well as a Turkish humanitarian group after complex negotiations. 

According to Reuters, the Syrian rebel al-Baraa brigade seized the Iranians in early August and initially threatened to kill them, saying they were members of Iran's elite Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps sent to fight for President Bashar al-Assad. Iran denied that, stating the men were pilgrims visiting Shiite religious sites in Syria. 

READ MORE: Assad Calls On Syrians To Defend Country, Ignores Calls For Resignation 

During a press briefing Wednesday, State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland stated that the group of released hostages were Guard members and that their presence in Syria was “just another example of how Iran continues to provide guidance, expertise, personnel, technical capabilities to the Syrian regime.” 

Iranian ambassador to Syria, Mohammad Reza Sheibani, greeted the group of 48 Iranians that arrived at the Sheraton hotel in Damascus Wednesday. He informed reporters the deal was not easy to close, but Sheibani was satisfied with the release of the captives.

“Although the terms the kidnappers proposed were very tough, the efforts that Syria made in this matter ultimately led to the success of the talks and the freeing of the Iranian nationals.” 

"I hope such tragedies will not be repeated," he continued, yet didn't elaborate further on what terms the negotiations entailed.

Read more of Neon Tommy’s coverage on Syria here.

Follow Executive Producer Chima Simone on Twitter.



 

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