Israel returns prisoners
2006-08-21 17:05
Beirut - Israel on Monday handed over to UN peacekeepers five Lebanese men who were captured during an Israeli commando raid late on August 1 on the Hezbollah stronghold of Baalbek, according to a peacekeeping official.
At least 16 Lebanese were killed in the commando operation against what authorities in the Bekaa Valley city said was in Iranian-built hospital.
Israel said the building was a Hezbollah base and claimed it captured five Hezbollah fighters and killed 10.
The UN peacekeeping official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the prisoners were returned at the Unifil headquarters in Naqoura, just north of the Israeli border.
- AP