BEIRUT: Islamist militants and fighters loyal to the Syrian government have made a rare prisoner swap, with insurgents releasing 25 women and children in exchange for one of their commanders, a monitoring group said Monday.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the 10 children and 15 women had been kidnapped by insurgents more than a year ago from Shiite towns of Nubl and Zahraa in Aleppo province.

The deal was between the militant Islamist Mujahedeen Army and pro-government militia, it said, and mediated by the Kurdish YPG militia.

Syrian state media did not mention the exchange, and government officials were not immediately available for comment Monday.

“The women and children were kidnapped between a year and 18 months ago and held by different rebels,” Observatory head Rami Abdel-Rahman told Reuters. “They were handed to the Mujahedeen Army to use in an exchange.”

He said the commander, Youssef Zawaa, who was captured in August, was the military leader of the Mujahedeen Army.

Another Internet outlet said an Iranian soldier was among the detainees released by the rebels.

Kidnap for ransom is common in Syria but trades between warring sides are infrequent.

 

 

https://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/Middle-East/2015/Apr-07/293526-rebels-syrian-regime-swap-captives.ashx