Israel has released five Lebanese men who had been detained by Israeli forces in parts of southern Lebanon under military control, according to the office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Middle East Eye reported the release, citing a statement from Netanyahu’s office. The available information did not identify the five men or specify when they were detained, how long they were held or the precise locations in southern Lebanon where Israeli forces took them into custody.
According to the prime minister’s office, Israeli interrogators examined whether the detained men had ties to an armed organisation. The office said the questioning found no such affiliation among the five Lebanese nationals.
Israeli authorities also concluded that there was no basis to keep the men in detention, Netanyahu’s office said. The five were subsequently freed. No further details were provided about the release process, including where the men were handed over or whether any conditions were attached to their release.
The statement did not explain why the men had initially been detained in the military-controlled areas. It also did not say whether they had been suspected of any specific activity before the interrogation determined that they were not affiliated with an armed group.
The limited account from Netanyahu’s office presented the decision as the result of the interrogation findings and the absence of grounds for continued detention. Middle East Eye’s report contained no additional information about the men’s circumstances after their release, their places of residence or whether Lebanese authorities were involved.
No names, ages or other identifying details were given for the five men. The report also did not provide a date for either their detention or release. Based on the information released by the Israeli prime minister’s office, all five men were freed after authorities found neither an armed-organisation connection nor a reason to continue holding them.
Reporting attribution: based on reporting by Middle East Eye — original source: https://www.middleeasteye.net/live-blog/live-blog-update/israel-releases-five-lebanese-men-detained-southern-lebanon.