Two Men Kidnapped in Retaliation to Arsal Captives Released in Hawr Taala
Two men from the northeastern border town of Arsal were set free after a three-day kidnap ordeal by gunmen from al-Masri family to press the release of soldier Ali Zeid al-Masri, who is held captive along with other soldiers and policemen by Islamist militants.
Hassan Fleiti and Abdullah al-Breidi were handed over to the head of Hizbullah's Juristic Committee, Sheikh Mohammed Yazbek, in presence of MP Ali al-Meqdad, the state-run National News Agency reported on Thursday.
Yazbek in turn handed them over to a general security delegation in the Bekaa Valley town of Hawr Taala.
“The strength of the Lebanese is in their unity and coexistence,” Yazbek said, calling on all sides to reduce tension and end the “irresponsible” rhetoric.
He noted that Hizbullah and Baalbek lawmakers will soon call for a general meeting for the area's prominent figures to discuss the latest developments amid the ongoing roads blocking by residents.
Al-Masri family hails from the Shiite Bekaa town of Brital, while the two men are from the Sunni dominated town of Arsal.
The sectarian abduction came in light of the beheading of a Shiite soldier by Islamist gunmen who overran Arsal earlier in August.
Fighters from ISIL or what is now known as the Islamic State along with militants form al-Qaida-linked al-Nusra Front engaged in deadly fighting with the Lebanese army and took with them hostages from the military and the Internal Security Forces as they withdrew to Syria.
The jihadists beheaded two of their captives and have threatened to kill more.
On Wednesday, the relatives of Arsal captives staged a sit-in in Beirut's Martyrs' Square, erecting a tent until the release of their sons.
H.K.
G.K.
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