Report: Lebanese Pilgrims May Be Released within 48 Hours

Negotiations over the release of the 11 kidnapped Lebanese pilgrims have achieved “great progress”, reported the daily An Nahar on Saturday.

Hizbullah circles told the daily that there are “very positive signs that they may be released within 48 hours.”

They added that the captives are doing well and that should they be released they would be transported through former Prime Minister Saad Hariri’s private jet.

The pilgrims were kidnapped in the Syrian city of Aleppo on May 22 as they were making their way back to Lebanon by land from a pilgrimage to Iran.

Their location remains unknown amid conflicting reports that they had entered Turkish territory.

No side has so far claimed responsibility for their abduction, but various sides had been accused of being behind the incident, including the Free Syrian Army, which has denied any involvement in the case.