Lebanon's interior ministry has reversed a decision to ban the release of Steven Spielberg's latest film, The Post.

The General Security authority, a body that censors films, plays and books in addition to controlling the country’s borders, had announced it was banning the Hollywood thriller in keeping with an Arab League boycott targeting supporters of Israel.

But the interior ministry chose not to sign off on the decision, in what the AFP news agency said was a rare move.

A senior official confirmed on Wednesday: “Interior Minister Nohad Mashnouk is going to allow the film to be shown.”

The company distributing the film in Lebanon confirmed the film, starring Meryl Streep and Tom Hanks, would be released in cinemas in Beirut and elsewhere on Thursday.

The production tells the behind-the-scenes story of The Washington Post’s 1971 decision to publish the Pentagon Papers, which exposed the lies behind US involvement in the Vietnam War.

Lebanon has previously banned other films with connections to Israel, including Gal Gadot’s superhero epic Wonder Woman, where the lead actress’ history of service in the IDF was cited as the reason.

In the past three years at least five films directed or produced by Spielberg have been successfully released in Lebanon, including Bridge of Spies and The BFG.