The International Committee of the Red Cross announces the extradition of 4 Lebanese released by Israel

The International Committee of the Red Cross announced in a statement, on Friday, that it had extradited 4 Lebanese to Lebanon, after Israel released them, where they were detained.

The committee said that it facilitated their transfer at the request of both sides, according to the Lebanese National News Agency.

The International Committee of the Red Cross added: “The International Committee’s role in this operation was purely humanitarian, as it acted as a neutral mediator between Israel and Lebanon.”

It said in its statement: “The International Committee maintains a bilateral, non-public dialogue with the relevant authorities to address issues related to persons detained, deceased or missing for reasons related to the armed conflict.”

The International Committee of the Red Cross statement continued: “Many families in Lebanon are still waiting for answers regarding the fate of their loved ones who may be detained, deceased, or missing for any other reason. The International Committee continues to communicate with the families themselves, and remains determined to reveal the fate of their loved ones. We are ready to act as a neutral mediator in any future humanitarian operations whenever the two parties reach an agreement,” according to the National News Agency.

The National News Agency reported that “the Lebanese army received from the International Red Cross in the Mansouri area the four Lebanese prisoners, and they are currently in the Benoit barracks in Tyre.”

For his part, Lebanese President Joseph Aoun expressed his "thanks for all the endeavors and efforts made, especially by the United States, led by President Donald Trump, and international bodies, especially the International Red Cross, which led to the release of the first batch of Lebanese detainees by the Israeli government."

Joseph Aoun said, “This first step reaffirms the feasibility of the Lebanese position, with all its components, and the necessity of completing the required steps, which were stipulated in the tripartite framework of action, leading to the restoration of full Lebanese sovereignty, not detracting from an inch of our land, nor detracting from our people,” according to what the National News Agency quoted him as saying.