Lebanon’s Cabinet on Friday approved an agreement with Syria to transfer hundreds of convicted Syrian prisoners back to their home country, marking a significant step in efforts to address a long-standing source of tension between the two neighbors.

The accord, negotiated since September under the supervision of Deputy Prime Minister Tarek Mitri, applies only to inmates who have already been sentenced and does not include detainees whose cases are still pending before the courts.

Mitri told reporters after the Cabinet session that roughly 300 prisoners are expected to be eligible for transfer under the new arrangement. He described the agreement as an important humanitarian and legal measure that reflects cooperation between the two countries.

Under the deal, transfers will take place only after strict conditions are met. Each inmate must give explicit consent, and authorities must verify that all judicial procedures have been completed. The agreement also includes reciprocal provisions, allowing Lebanese citizens convicted in Syria to serve their sentences in Lebanon.

The accord is scheduled to enter into force 30 days after it is formally signed by both governments.

The prisoner issue has long complicated relations between Beirut and Damascus, particularly as the two countries attempt to recalibrate ties following the ouster of former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. Lebanese officials have previously resisted Syrian requests for a blanket handover of detainees, insisting that cases involving violence or security-related offenses be reviewed individually.

Information Minister Paul Morcos said the agreement approved Friday resolves part of the dispute but acknowledged that several sensitive matters remain unresolved. Among them are the fate of Lebanese nationals believed to have disappeared in Syrian prisons during Assad’s rule and the still-pending demarcation of the border between the two countries.