Beirut: An exchange of prisoners between the Lebanese Shiite Hezbollah movement and former Al Qaida affiliate Jabhat Fateh Al Sham began on Wednesday as part of an agreement to end hostilities in the region of Arsal, bordering Syria.

According to the Shiite group information centre, three militants from Jabhat Fateh Al Sham were released in Roumieh Prison in exchange for three Hezbollah men, who were captured during the battles in Arsal in the past two weeks, Efe news reported.

The exchange, mediated by General Security head Major General Abbas Ebrahim, was originally scheduled for Monday but was postponed for logistical reasons and further negotiations between the two sides.

The three militants were taken from the outskirts of Arsal to be transported soon to the Syrian province of Idlib, a region controlled mostly by Islamist and opposition factions.

Another swap of five prisoners is scheduled to be held between Hezbollah and Jabhat Fateh Al Sham in the Syrian city of Aleppo, according to the report.

The agreement between both sides included the exchange of bodies of dead fighters and evacuating the Jabhat Fateh Al Sham extremists from Lebanon to Syria.

Since Monday, buses have been arriving in Arsal, which is expected to evacuate about 9,000 members of Jabhat Fateh Al Sham, which was Al Qaida’s affiliate in Syria until it cut ties and rebranded in 2016.

The Shiite group launched an offensive two weeks ago to expel the radicals from the territory they controlled in northeastern Lebanon and managed to recover most of the area after days of intense fighting.

Hezbollah announced a ceasefire in the area last week and since then negotiations had been launched to evacuate the radical fighters and their families to the Syrian province of Idlib.

Meanwhile, Lebanese President Michel Aoun on Tuesday assured that Lebanon’s military and security institutions are “fully prepared” to confront all forms of terrorism.

“We do not retreat in the face of terrorism in all its aspects and organizations. The army and the security institutions are ready to confront it,” said Aoun during a ceremony marking the 72nd anniversary of Army Day.

“We look forward to liberate a part of Lebanon that has been occupied by terrorism for years,” he added, in reference to the army’s battle on the outskirts of the border towns of Al Qaa and Ras Baalbek against militants from Daesh terrorist organization.

“You have succeeded at dismantling so many terror cells. We now look forward to our armed forces preparing to liberate what remains of the occupied territory and to reveal the fate of your kidnapped comrades,” he said.

“The dangers threatening the homeland are many. Past experience of the 1970s has taught us that the country cannot stay united if its army is paralysed. Do not let criticism campaigns get into your morale,” President Aoun noted.

“Fulfilling the army’s vow costs us a lot of sacrifices but gives us the comfort of free conscience,” he said