Two boats carrying Syrian migrants to Cyprus were intercepted and returned to Syria without entering the Republic’s ports, via an agreement between the Cypriot government and the transitional Syrian regime of Ahmed al-Sharaa, it was reported on Monday.

The development is intended to deter economic migrants from setting sail for the island, according to an exclusive report on Philenews.

According to the daily, the new procedure comes after consultation between Nicosia and Damascus and an agreement for cooperation between the two states.

“We are aware of the report and are seeking clarifications,” United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) Cyprus told the Cyprus Mail.

According to the most recent report, two boats carrying 62 Syrian migrants, 34 in the first and 28 in the second, were spotted by the coast guard on Friday and Saturday, and were intercepted by Cypriot authorities before those aboard could damage the boat, which would trigger an immediate legal requirement for rescue and escort to the Republic.

The daily reported that instead, the passengers returned to the port of Tartus, the second biggest port in Syria, with the Syrian authorities’ collaboration.

The Syrian authorities reportedly assured that the migrants would not be prosecuted for their attempted escape, however, the traffickers will face justice.

It is known that irregular migrants pay between $4,000 and $7,000 for their transportation to Cyprus, often in unseaworthy vessels, and under dangerous conditions.

Syria’s reputed new stance is part of al-Sharaa’s efforts to upgrade his country’s image and secure a lifting of sanctions imposed during the Assad regime.

But the UNHCR referred to its statement in March in which it had said it did not consider Syria to currently meet conditions of non-refoulment of nationals attempting to leave.

On March 14 an alleged pushback incident had sparked concern and sparring between the agency and state authorities.

“UNHCR Cyprus expresses its concern about a pushback incident on 14 March involving three boats with approximately 80 Syrian nationals, including women and children, that had departed from Syria and reached Cyprus. These boats were reportedly pushed back by Cypriot authorities, as a result of which the Syrian nationals were forcibly returned to Syria from where they had fled,” UNHCR said at the time.

Justice Minister Marios Hartsiotis rejected claims of a pushback telling UNHCR spokeswoman Emilia Strovolidou to come forth with information for the police if she had any.

Cyprus Mail has contacted the Deputy Ministry of Migration and International Protection for a response.