SYRIA: Syria takes bodies as part of Hezbollah-Israel swap

Record ID: 279703

  • Title: SYRIA: Syria takes bodies as part of Hezbollah-Israel swap
  • Date: 23rd July 2008
  • Summary: (W3) JDAYDET YABOUS, SYRIAN-LEBANESE BORDER, SYRIA (JULY 23, 2008) (REUTERS-ACCESS ALL): VARIOUS OF PALESTINIANS AND SYRIANS GATHERED AND WAITING FOR BODIES OF ARAB FIGHTERS RELEASED BY ISRAEL AS PART OF A PRISONER SWAP WITH ISRAEL TO ARRIVE VARIOUS OF HEZBOLLAH CARS CARRYING THE BODIES SYRIAN RED CRESCENT VOLUNTEERS REMOVING COFFINS DRAPED IN PALESTINIAN FLAGS FROM CARS C
  • Embargoed: 7th August 2008 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Topics: War / Fighting,International Relations
  • Reuters ID: LVAEETUFTJJZCDVWVQKYWHRLVLRL
  • Story Text: Bodies of more than 100 Arab fighters are received by Syria after being released by Israel as part of prisoner exchange with Hezbollah.
    Syria received on Wednesday (July 23) the bodies of 114 Arab fighters released by Israel as part of a prisoners of war exchange between Israel and the Lebanese movement Hezbollah.
    The 114 were among the bodies of 200 mostly Arab fighters exchanged for bodies of Israeli soldiers last week in a deal mediated by the United Nations.
    Israel also released five Lebanese prisoners.
    Hundreds of relatives greeted the bodies as they came loaded on flatbed trucks through the Jedaideh crossing point between Lebanon and Syria.
    Fawaz Abu Assaf, a relative of one of the fighters, told Reuters: "I feel proud and honoured about this victory that the Islamic resistance has achieved"
    Syrian officials and leaders of Palestinian factions were also present at the crossing for the exchange of the bodies.
    Syrian nationals and Palestinians who grew up in refugee camps in Syria comprised around 100 bodies, which will be buried in Syria this week.
    The rest will be transported to their countries of origin if their governments agree to take them in, said Talal Naji, a senior official of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine-General Command, a Palestinian faction based in Syria.
    The Damascus government, along with Iran, is a main backer of Hezbollah, which fought a war with Israel in 2006.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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