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Reports Say Servicemen Release Imminent as Ibrahim Says Case Hasn't Reached 'Final Phase'

A number of captive Lebanese servicemen are expected to be freed in a swap deal with the captors in the coming hours, reports said on Friday, as the General Security urged an end to media speculation.

“The Lebanese servicemen held by the Islamic State and al-Nusra Front will be freed tomorrow as part of a swap deal,” al-Mayadeen TV quoted a ministerial source as saying.

In the evening, it said "a Lebanese security convoy has returned from Syria, carrying a number of al-Nusra Front members who were jailed in Syria."

MTV meanwhile reported that "16 servicemen held hostage by al-Nusra Front will be released."

"The women prisoners who have been transferred to the General Security headquarters for the swap deal are Saja al-Dulaimi, Jumana Hmeid, Samar al-Hindi, Layla al-Najjar and Ola al-Oqaili," it said.

Al-Dulaimi, a divorcee of Islamic State chief Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, told a Lebanese court in July that she had been married to the jihadist leader for only one month.

Earlier, General Security chief Maj. Gen. Abbas Ibrahim told NBN television that "things have not reached the final phase in the case of the captive servicemen," urging an end to "media speculation over the file."

The General Security's media bureau also issued a statement urging the media to avoid speculation.

“Some media outlets are circulating reports that a swap deal involving the captive servicemen will be carried out within hours and are also announcing specific timings for the exchange,” it said.

“The General Directorate of General Security announces that any progress in the case shall be officially declared in due time and it urges media outlets to take their information from the relevant authorities,” it added.

The General Security also cautioned that “this file has a humanitarian aspect and it should not be tackled in this manner in order not to subject the servicemen's families to any disappointment or pressures.”

Voice of Lebanon radio (93.3) had reported that “a convoy comprising more than 20 SUVs has been seen crossing the Dahr al-Baydar checkpoint on its way to Arsal with the aim of carrying out the swap deal.”

“The exchange will involve a group of prisoners including Hussein al-Hujeiri and Nizar Mawlawi and 5 women, most notably Saja al-Dulaimi, in addition to Syrian prisoners from the Hallaq, Najm and Rahal families,” it added.

Prime Minister Tammam Salam meanwhile met at the Grand Serail with Ibrahim, “who briefed him on the details of the swap deal,” VDL added.

In remarks to VDL (100.5), Sheikh Nabil Rahim, a prominent Islamist cleric, confirmed that the General Security “has transferred several Roumieh Islamist prisoners to its headquarters in Beirut,” noting that “the swap deal will happen tomorrow,” Saturday.

Meanwhile NBN television quoted “informed sources” as saying that “the captive servicemen held by al-Nusra Front are expected to be released tonight.”

The prisoners who were transferred to the General Security headquarters are seven Syrians and three Lebanese, MTV said.

It identified them as Lebanese nationals Ihab H., Hussein H. and Ahmed A. and Syrian citizens Mohammed Y., Mohammed R., Mohammed N., Mohamed Y., Abdul Majid Gh., Abdul Latif A. and Ahmed L.

A source from the so-called ministerial crisis cell told LBCI television that there are “serious indications” about a swap deal in the coming hours as another cell source told the TV network that the deal is “not imminent.”

At the Riad al-Solh Square, the families of the hostages were optimistic, telling TV networks that they have received positive information.

Earlier in the day, VDL (93.3) said Salam has “postponed his Paris trip to Sunday morning and scheduled a Grand Serail meeting for tomorrow (Saturday) morning.”

“Sources have declined to reveal the meeting's purpose,” it said.

The Lebanese troops and policemen were abducted in August 2014 during deadly battles between the army and jihadists from the IS and al-Nusra in and around the northeastern border town of Arsal.

Four hostages have since been executed and the two groups had threatened to kill more captives if Lebanese authorities do not fulfill their demands.

The demands include the release of Islamist prisoners, including women, from Lebanon's prisons.

Y.R.


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