A group of Lebanese Shiite pilgrims kidnapped in Syria were freed on Friday and arrived in Turkey, Lebanese Health Minister Ali Hassan Khalil said.
"We have received confirmation that they have been freed. They have arrived in Turkey and should return home today," said Khalil.
On Tuesday, Lebanon's state news agency NNA said 13 pilgrims were abducted in northern Syria as they made their way home from a pilgrimage in Iran and accused the rebel Free Syrian Army kidnapped them.
The FSA denied the claim.
On Thursday the rebel army said it was making "every effort" to locate and release the Lebanese pilgrims, who were abducted in Syria's northern province of Aleppo.
It was not immediately clear in what circumstances the pilgrims were freed.
NNA also reported the release of the pilgrims, saying that Prime Minister Najib Mikati received a call from his Turkish counterpart Ahmet Davutoglu who assured him they were "safe and on their way to Beirut."
A private plane owned by former billionaire prime minister Saad Hariri was preparing to fly the pilgrims home, Future News television, owned by Hariri, reported.
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