Beirut: Lebanon has released Hannibal Qaddafi, the son of deposed Libyan ruler Muammar Qaddafi, on bail following a court order that was fulfilled with the payment of $900,000 this morning.

According to his lawyer, Laurent Bayon, the younger Qaddafi is now free after nearly a decade in custody.

The 49-year-old was accused of withholding information regarding the 1978 disappearance of Lebanese Shiite cleric Mussa Sadr in Libya; however, he never faced trial, having been only two years old at the time.

The initial bail set for his release was $11 million, which was reduced to $900,000 after an appeal by his legal team.

A Lebanese judicial source confirmed that the required bail has been paid, and proceedings were underway for Qaddafi's release.

Bayon also mentioned that his client intends to leave Lebanon for a destination yet to be disclosed, as he holds a Libyan passport.

This development is seen as reflecting the restoration of judicial independence in Lebanon, particularly under the government formed in January 2025, which has been implementing reforms.

The strained relations between Lebanon and Libya, stemming from the disappearance of Mussa Sadr and his companions in Libya, have been tense for decades.

The founder of the Amal movement, now allied with the militant group Hezbollah, along with an aide and a journalist, vanished during an official visit to Libya, leading to Beirut attributing responsibility to Muammar Qaddafi's regime.

Hannibal Qaddafi fled to Syria after the start of the uprising against his father in Libya.

In December 2015, he was kidnapped by armed men who transported him to Lebanon.

Subsequently, Lebanese authorities freed him from his captors and detained him themselves.