Syria Frees Lebanese, Palestinian Fishermen after 1-Week Detention

Syrian authorities on Wednesday released three fishermen who had been arrested a week ago inside Lebanon's territorial waters.

Al-Jadeed television identified the trio as the Lebanese citizens Khaled Hassan al-Rashidi and Bashir Ahmed al-Mishmshani, who hail from Akkar's Bebnin, and Palestinian national Bahaa al-Sheikh.

“They were handed over to the Lebanese General Security,” al-Jadeed added.

Lebanon's National News Agency reported last week that three three men were detained after the Syrian navy opened fire at Lebanese fishing boats off the coast of the northern Lebanese town of al-Arida.

The news agency said that a fishing boat owned by Fadi H., who hails from al-Arida, was damaged but no casualties were reported.

NNA also reported that the Syrian navy seized another fishing boat, pulling it into the Syrian territorial waters.

The boat is owned by Khaled Hassan al-Rashidi, according to the agency.

The Syrian navy continuously opens fire at Lebanese fishermen off al-Arida coast, the latest in August 2013 when it released eight fishermen after their short detention.

In January 2012, Syrian authorities also released a Lebanese fishing boat the Syrian navy had seized after an incident in which a 14-year-old Lebanese boy was killed and two sailors were arrested.

Y.R.