News
Latest News
news bulletin
Breaking Headlines
Israel-Gaza War Updates
Variety and Tech
Sports News
Middle East News
World News
Lebanon News
Press Highlights
Lebanon Economy
News Bulletin Reports
Other News
Breaking Headlines
Israel-Gaza War Updates
Variety and Tech
Sports News
Middle East News
World News
Lebanon News
Press Highlights
Lebanon Economy
News Bulletin Reports
Beirut
27
o
Bekaa
18
o
Keserwan
27
o
Metn
27
o
Mount Lebanon
23
o
North
26
o
South
26
o
Live
Video
Audio
Schedule
shows
العربية
watching now
Al Arbaji - Season 2
SUBSCRIBE
Home
Notification
Live
Video
Audio
shows
Beirut
27
o
Bekaa
18
o
Keserwan
27
o
Metn
27
o
Mount Lebanon
23
o
North
26
o
South
26
o
News
Programs
The News
Breaking Headlines
Israel-Gaza War Updates
Variety and Tech
Sports News
Middle East News
World News
Lebanon News
Press Highlights
Lebanon Economy
News Bulletin Reports
Programs
Series
Movies
Documentaries
Variety
Comedy
Talk Show
News Bulletin
Sports
Breaking News
Latest News
Highlighted News
Most Read
Videos
العربية
Watch the latest programs and the latest developments on your favorite screen
Shows
Join millions of followers
Who We Are
Contact Us
Advertise With Us
Careers
Channel frequencies
Privacy Policy
Terms and Conditions
Hezbollah official makes landmark visit to UAE to facilitate the release of Lebanese nationals: Reuters sources
Lebanon News
20-03-2024 | 13:48
High views
Share
Share
4
min
Hezbollah official makes landmark visit to UAE to facilitate the release of Lebanese nationals: Reuters sources
A senior official from the Iran-backed Lebanese group Hezbollah has made a landmark trip to the United Arab Emirates to facilitate the release of more than a dozen Lebanese nationals detained there, four sources close to Hezbollah told Reuters.
The visit at the invitation of the UAE could signal a significant shift away from the hostility that has long defined relations between Shi'ite Muslim Hezbollah and the Sunni Muslim UAE, a strategic ally of the United States, analysts said.
There was no immediate response from the UAE foreign ministry to Reuters' requests for comments.
One of the sources, speaking on condition of anonymity, described Wafiq Safa's visit as a "new page" in ties between the UAE and Hezbollah, which is designated a terrorist group by the United States and its Gulf Arab allies.
Safa travelled to the UAE on Tuesday, the sources said. He runs Hezbollah's Liaison and Coordination Unit, responsible for coordinating with Lebanese security agencies, and is sanctioned by the United States.
The four sources familiar with Hezbollah's thinking said that the UAE had made contact Hezbollah with a message that they were seeking to release the Lebanese detainees, several of whom were serving life sentences.
The sources said the detainees had been arrested on charges including providing support and finance for Hezbollah, describing these as politically-motivated charges.
All four sources said the detainees would be released in the coming days and would accompany Safa back to Lebanon.
Two of the sources said the UAE asked Hezbollah's ally Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to pass on the message before the start of the Gaza war, during which Hezbollah and Israel have exchanged fire across the Lebanese-Israeli border.
There was no immediate response from Syria's information ministry to a Reuters request for comment.
One of the sources said the visit suggested an effort to alleviate "some of the regional tensions", without elaborating.
UAE foreign policy moves in recent years have included restoring ties with Assad, having once backed the rebels seeking to topple him, and normalizing ties with Israel in 2020.
The UAE began re-engaging Tehran in 2019, and Saudi Arabia re-established ties with Iran last year.
The tensions between Hezbollah and the UAE reflected a wider struggle between Iran and Sunni Arab Gulf states which fuelled conflicts including wars in Syria and Yemen.
The six-member Gulf Cooperation Council, which includes Saudi Arabia, declared Hezbollah a terrorist group in 2016. The GCC imposed sanctions on Hezbollah in 2013 for entering the Syrian war on Assad's side.
At a high point in regional tensions in 2019 following a drone attack on Saudi oil installations, Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah warned the UAE and Saudi Arabia that they should halt the conflict in Yemen to protect themselves.
The UAE led Arab moves to re-establish ties with Assad in recent years. Syria's membership in the Arab League was restored last year, after a more than decade-long suspension.
The UAE last year released 10 Lebanese nationals who had been detained there for two months, according to Lebanon's foreign ministry.
Reuters
Lebanon News
Middle East News
Iran
Hezbollah
United Arab Emirates
Lebanese
Detainees
Wafiq Safa
Next
Source close to Hezbollah says Israel strike targeted Palestinian affairs official
Recommended For You
d-none hideMe
0
News Bulletin Reports
13:06
Expat seats in limbo as Lebanon heads toward 2026 elections
News Bulletin Reports
13:06
Expat seats in limbo as Lebanon heads toward 2026 elections
0
News Bulletin Reports
12:54
As clock ticks, Lebanon faces pressure over UNIFIL and Hezbollah's weapons — the details
News Bulletin Reports
12:54
As clock ticks, Lebanon faces pressure over UNIFIL and Hezbollah's weapons — the details
0
Lebanon News
12:14
US Envoy Tom Barrack: Disarming Hezbollah requires a 'carrots and sticks' strategy
Lebanon News
12:14
US Envoy Tom Barrack: Disarming Hezbollah requires a 'carrots and sticks' strategy
0
Lebanon News
11:44
Israeli airstrike on vehicle in Khalde kills one, wounds three: Health Ministry
Lebanon News
11:44
Israeli airstrike on vehicle in Khalde kills one, wounds three: Health Ministry
Subscribe to our VOD
SUBSCRIBE
Our visitors readings
d-none hideMe
0
Middle East News
09:09
FM Araghchi says Iran remains committed to Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and Safeguards agreement
Middle East News
09:09
FM Araghchi says Iran remains committed to Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and Safeguards agreement
0
World News
13:24
US recalls top diplomat in Colombia for 'urgent consultations'
World News
13:24
US recalls top diplomat in Colombia for 'urgent consultations'
0
News Bulletin Reports
2025-07-02
Israeli profiles surface on Lebanese dating apps — real risk or random match?
News Bulletin Reports
2025-07-02
Israeli profiles surface on Lebanese dating apps — real risk or random match?
0
Lebanon News
2025-07-02
Casino du Liban director Roland Khoury detained in BetArabia investigation: Sources to LBCI
Lebanon News
2025-07-02
Casino du Liban director Roland Khoury detained in BetArabia investigation: Sources to LBCI
Videos
d-none hideMe
0
Lebanon News
2025-07-01
Massive fire erupts at unregulated dumpsite in Bchannine, Zgharta district
Lebanon News
2025-07-01
Massive fire erupts at unregulated dumpsite in Bchannine, Zgharta district
0
Lebanon News
2025-06-10
Clash between Lebanese Army and residents of Deir Qanoun Al Nahr results in injuries (Video)
Lebanon News
2025-06-10
Clash between Lebanese Army and residents of Deir Qanoun Al Nahr results in injuries (Video)
0
Lebanon News
2025-06-04
Mexico dedicates garden around Lebanese Emigrant Statue in Beirut to mark 80 years of diplomatic ties
Lebanon News
2025-06-04
Mexico dedicates garden around Lebanese Emigrant Statue in Beirut to mark 80 years of diplomatic ties
0
Lebanon News
2025-05-19
President Aoun to seek Egyptian support for Lebanese Army in detecting explosives and tunnels
Lebanon News
2025-05-19
President Aoun to seek Egyptian support for Lebanese Army in detecting explosives and tunnels
0
Lebanon News
2025-05-15
LBCI Exclusive: US steps up pressure on Hezbollah, Morgan Ortagus details sanctions and vision for Lebanon's future
Lebanon News
2025-05-15
LBCI Exclusive: US steps up pressure on Hezbollah, Morgan Ortagus details sanctions and vision for Lebanon's future
0
Lebanon News
2025-05-11
Kuwait rolls out official welcome for Lebanon's President Aoun – video
Lebanon News
2025-05-11
Kuwait rolls out official welcome for Lebanon's President Aoun – video
0
Lebanon News
2025-05-11
Security incidents temporarily disrupt voting in several Akkar and Minieh-Danniyeh centers
Lebanon News
2025-05-11
Security incidents temporarily disrupt voting in several Akkar and Minieh-Danniyeh centers
0
News Bulletin Reports
2025-05-09
EU ambassador says 'we are not just donors, but genuine partners to Lebanon': Insights from exclusive LBCI interview
News Bulletin Reports
2025-05-09
EU ambassador says 'we are not just donors, but genuine partners to Lebanon': Insights from exclusive LBCI interview
0
Lebanon News
2025-04-23
US envoy Morgan Ortagus hails Lebanese diaspora, says country stands at a crossroads
Lebanon News
2025-04-23
US envoy Morgan Ortagus hails Lebanese diaspora, says country stands at a crossroads
Most read
d-none hideMe
24 hours
7 days
Month
1
Sports News
04:32
Liverpool's Portuguese forward Diogo Jota dies in car crash in Spain, TVE reports
Sports News
04:32
Liverpool's Portuguese forward Diogo Jota dies in car crash in Spain, TVE reports
2
Lebanon News
10:17
Israeli drone targets vehicle on Khalde highway
Lebanon News
10:17
Israeli drone targets vehicle on Khalde highway
3
Lebanon News
03:54
Hezbollah’s Qassem says party won’t surrender weapons or land under pressure
Lebanon News
03:54
Hezbollah’s Qassem says party won’t surrender weapons or land under pressure
4
News Bulletin Reports
12:54
As clock ticks, Lebanon faces pressure over UNIFIL and Hezbollah's weapons — the details
News Bulletin Reports
12:54
As clock ticks, Lebanon faces pressure over UNIFIL and Hezbollah's weapons — the details
5
Lebanon News
11:44
Israeli airstrike on vehicle in Khalde kills one, wounds three: Health Ministry
Lebanon News
11:44
Israeli airstrike on vehicle in Khalde kills one, wounds three: Health Ministry
6
Middle East News
10:40
US imposes new sanctions targeting Iran oil trade, Hezbollah: Treasury Department says
Middle East News
10:40
US imposes new sanctions targeting Iran oil trade, Hezbollah: Treasury Department says
7
Lebanon News
05:46
MEA cancels Paris flight amid French airport strikes, reschedules for Saturday
Lebanon News
05:46
MEA cancels Paris flight amid French airport strikes, reschedules for Saturday
8
Lebanon News
12:14
US Envoy Tom Barrack: Disarming Hezbollah requires a 'carrots and sticks' strategy
Lebanon News
12:14
US Envoy Tom Barrack: Disarming Hezbollah requires a 'carrots and sticks' strategy
Download now the LBCI mobile app
To see the latest news, the latest daily programs in Lebanon and the world
Google Play
App Store
We use
cookies
We use
cookies
to make
your experience on this
website better.
Accept
Learn More