An Australian mother at the centre of a botched child recovery in Lebanon that led to the detention of a 60 Minutes reporter and crew, has been arrested and her children handed over to her husband.

Lebanese media are reporting that Beirut police detained Brisbane mother Sally Faulkner and returned her children Lahela, 6, and Noah, 4, to their biological father, Beirut surf shop owner Ali Elamine, early on Friday, Australian time.

Mr Elamine had taken the children to Lebanon for a holiday. Despite promising the holiday would last for only a short period of time Mr Elamine is alleged to have refused to return the children to Australia.

Ms Faulkner had contact with the Australian embassy shortly before her detention, but it not been revealed whether she surrendered to police voluntarily.