The Syrian Role in the Release of Hostages from the Hijacked American Boeing 727 Aircraft (June 14-30, 1985)

This research aims to explore Syria's role in securing the release of the American hostages on board the hijacked World Airways Boeing 727, and its efforts to resolve the crisis between June 14 and June 30, 1985.The plane, which was hijacked by the Lebanese Hezbollah in Athens, was en route to Rome with 153 passengers onboard.The hijacking resulted in the assassination of an American Navy soldier during this period.In response, the United States attempted to open diplomatic channels with influential regional powers to facilitate the release of the hostages by contacting President Hafez al-Assad, who had significant influence over the major Shiite faction in Lebanon, the Amal Movement, and could serve as a mediator in the negotiations.Additionally, President Assad was able to exert pressure on Iran, which had strong ties with Syria, to influence its ally, Hezbollah, in Lebanon.These efforts ultimately led to the resolution of the crisis, the release of the hostages, and improved relations with the United States, which had previously viewed Syria as a state sponsor of terrorism.The research is divided into two sections: the first discusses Syria's stance on the hijacked plane hostage crisis between June 16 and 25, 1985, while the second examines the role of the Syrian government's mediation and its impact on the hostages' release, along with the reactions to these efforts between June 26 and 30, 1985.