Bodies dug up for swap of prisoners

Israel’s military said it had begun digging up the bodies of Lebanese fighters after the government struck a deal with the Hezbollah guerrilla movement to swap five prisoners and dozens of bodies for two Israeli soldiers captured in 2006 who Israel believes are probably dead.

Israel will hand over Samir Kuntar, serving multiple life terms for a 1979 attack in Israel’s north, four other prisoners and dozens of bodies. In return, Israel is to receive the two soldiers, or their bodies. The soldiers were captured by Hezbollah in a 2006 cross-border raid that set off a fierce 34-day war.