TRIPOLI, May 17 (Xinhua) -- Libya's east-based army handed over three Philippine engineers and a South Korean engineer kidnapped by gunmen last year in southwestern Libya to the United Arab Emirates (UAE), a military source told Xinhua on Friday.

"Four foreigners ... kidnapped by gunmen last year have been handed over to the UAE in preparation for their return to home early next week," the source said.

"The four foreigners were transported by air from eastern Libya to the UAE based on requests from their countries," the sources added, confirming that the engineers were in good health condition.

The source said that the kidnapping was a "criminal act for huge ransom."

The source did not reveal details about the time of the freeing of the engineers or the identities of the kidnappers.

In July 2018, gunmen attacked a water supply project located more than 800 km southwest of the capital Tripoli and took the four engineers.

The army, led by Khalifa Haftar, has been leading a military campaign against crime and terrorism in southern Libya since mid-January. Enditem

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