One of Remaining 10 Lebanese Pilgrims Held in Syria Released

A Lebanese man who has been held hostage in Syria along with ten other pilgrims since May was released on Tuesday, media reports said.

Awad Ibrahim told LBCI TV network that he was in good health.

Voice of Lebanon radio (93.3) also said Ibrahim telephoned his brother to confirm the news of his release.

Ibrahim crossed the Syrian border to Turkey and is expected to return to Beirut within hours, VDL said.

Eleven Lebanese pilgrims were kidnapped by the rebel Free Syrian Army in the northern province of Aleppo on May 22 as they were returning home from Iran.

VDL (100.5) quoted Ibrahim as saying that the remaining pilgrims are doing well.

The rebels are holding onto their demand for an apology from Hizbullah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah to release the 9 pilgrims, he said.

Last month, Hussein Ali Omar was released in what his captors said was a “goodwill gesture.”