Two Security Forces Members Abducted in Arsal Released by Islamists

Two security forces members abducted in the northeastern border town of Arsal by Islamist gunmen have been released, the Lebanese army said Sunday.

The Muslim Scholars Committee delegation, tasked with negotiating their release, and Sheikh Mustapha al-Hujairi, an official from Arsal, received the members, media reports said.

But the army said in a communique that they were handed to the military intelligence, which referred them to the head of the ISF station in Arsal.

The army identified them as Madyan Hassan and Kamal al-Masalmani.

LBCI television later said that they were released after the al-Nusra Front gunmen received assurances from Lebanese authorities that the “security grip on Arsal Syrian refugee camps will be eased.”

A number of troops and security forces members were abducted by Islamist gunmen when they withdrew from Arsal after being engaged in clashes with the army.

The clashes broke out on August 2 between the army and the militants in light of the arrest of prominent al-Qaida-affiliated al-Nusra Front member Imad Jomaa.

A number of soldiers were killed and wounded in the unrest that ended in a ceasefire on August 7.

Earlier on Sunday, Muslim Scholars Committee member Sheikh Adnan Imama told Voice of Lebanon radio (100.5) that “important progress” was achieved in the negotiations with the gunmen over the release of their captives

He told the radio: “We have achieved very important progress over the past three days.”

In addition, he said that the Committee is negotiating with an armed group from the al-Nusra Front and a group from the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant.

Imama revealed that the Committee managed to obtain the names of captives held by one armed group.

Pictures and video recordings of the abductees have been handed to the government, he added.

“We will obtain on Monday a list of the detainees held by the second armed group,” Imama stated.

He reassured that the soldiers and security forces were doing well, revealing: “The numbers spoken of by the Army Command are much greater than the actual number of the detainees held by the groups.”

Moreover, he said that the gunmen are seeking to release the detainees in exchange for others held by the Lebanese authorities, but their identities have not been disclosed yet.

The negotiations are usually conducted through a mediator and “we have only met with the armed groups when they were in Arsal,” he told VDL (100.5).

Media reports have said that the militants are seeking to release them in exchange of fellow Islamists imprisoned in Roumieh jail.

On Thursday, Jomaa and 42 Syrians were charged with belonging to armed terrorist groups, carrying out terrorist attacks, seizing control of Lebanese territories in order to set up their own emirate, killing soldiers and civilians, sabotaging military vehicles, and damaging public and private property.

They may face the death penalty if convicted.

Meanwhile, Ad Diyar daily reported on Sunday that the gunmen have warned the Lebanese authorities against stalling in the negotiations, warning that the delay will “negatively affect the talks.”

They vowed that they will “release a shocking video if their demand for the release of a number of detainees, starting with Jomaa, is not met.”