According to a report published by the Lebanon-based Al-Manar, 85 Saudi officers, mostly from Saudi intelligence service, are incarcerated in Syria for assisting and training terrorists.

At least 7 of the spy inmates are described as senior officers.

Saudi Arabia's officials, via a mediator, have made numerous appeals to get their agents released. However, the Syrian government has turned down the pleas.

According to the report, 14 Qatari and seven Turkish intelligence officers from are also imprisoned in Syria for similar charges.

Turkish and Qatari officials have also made attempts to get their intelligence agents freed but they have not succeeded. 

Syria has been gripped by deadly unrest since 2011. According to reports, the Western powers and their regional allies, especially Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey, are supporting the insurgents operating inside Syria.

RA/MB