Report: Nusra Front to Keep Shiite Hostages in Custody to Use as Pressure Tool

إقرأ هذا الخبر بالعربية W460

The al-Qaida-affiliated al-Nusra Front will reportedly keep the Shiite Lebanese hostages it had kidnapped last month in the northeastern border town of Arsal, al-Akhbar newspaper reported on Monday.

Sources told the newspaper that jihadists will soon free Sunni, Christian and Druze abductees but will keep the Shiites in their custody.

“They want to use them as a pressure tool,” the sources said.

For his part, Sheikh Moustapha al-Hujeiri also known as Abou Taqiye, who is familiar with the case of the abducted soldiers and policemen, stressed that he will not “stop his endeavors until all soldiers are released without any exception.”

On Sunday, al-Nusra Front threatened to “kill the Shiite Lebanese soldiers” it had kidnapped should Hizbullah intervene in battles in Syria's al-Qalamun region.

Hizbullah has been taking part in the fighting in Syria to aid President Bashar Assad's troops.

The Syrian forces alongside the Shiite group have seized control of al-Qalamun in April.

Judicial sources told al-Joumhouria newspaper that a high-level security meeting, held at the Grand Serail on Sunday, was briefed on the cases of the Islamist prisoners held at Roumieh prison.

The sources said that 66.6 percent of the trial procedures have been carried out, pointing out that the sentences will be issued soon and those who are innocent will be acquitted.

On several occasions, the al-Qaida-linked al-Nusra Front and the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant vowed to free Islamist prisoners in Roumieh.

Islamist gunmen had kidnapped a number of Lebanese soldiers and security forces from Arsal in light of clashes between Islamists and the army in the region.

The battles began on August 2 and ended five days later.

H.K.

G.K.

Comments 17
Thumb Kalzyturks 01 September 2014, 08:35

I sincerely hope all soldiers are released.

I pray for their families who are suffering the most

Thumb cityboy 01 September 2014, 08:54

In the end all the soldiers will be released, including the shia soldiers. The nusra group don't act independently, in the end their backers be it Qatar or the Saudis will force them to give up the hostages. So they can threat all they want it wont make a difference.

Default-user-icon mwaten (Guest) 01 September 2014, 09:20

exactly the point mowaten, one way or another.

Thumb _mowaten_ 01 September 2014, 11:04

!?
seems like you're obsessed with me

Default-user-icon cityboy (Guest) 01 September 2014, 11:36

who wouldn't mowaten!

Thumb liberty 02 September 2014, 05:17

don't hide it mowaten. You are using many screen names including @cityboy and @crusher among others. Everybody knows that. Try to change your writing style, it might help.

Missing ysurais 01 September 2014, 09:39

we will fight for all of our soldiers,.. LAF is not sunni nor shite nor christian nor anything...IT IS LEBANESE For ALL LEBANON...

Default-user-icon illiterate-Southern (Guest) 01 September 2014, 10:57

well said sane Southern

Thumb thepatriot 01 September 2014, 10:58

Hezbollah needed an excuse to keep their useless weapons, and they created one. Resisting nothing against Israel, not firing a bullet at them since 2006, having been forced back of the Litani river, made them completely useless.
Going and provoking the Sunnis in Syria (that now come to revenge on our Land) gave them a purpose to keep their filthy weapons... they think Hezbollah first, never Lebanon first... tfeh!

Thumb _mowaten_ 01 September 2014, 13:35

yeayeayea.. it's all about finding excuses. just like you're a sorry excuse for a patriot.

Thumb thepatriot 02 September 2014, 10:43

fascinating reply momo... you never deceive...

Default-user-icon Captain-Minister (Guest) 01 September 2014, 13:25

I sometimes visit Naharnet not to read its sided articles but to read FlameThrower's comments.

Default-user-icon derteoust gresatorious (Guest) 01 September 2014, 13:28

 al-Akhbar newspaper reported, move along folks nothing to see here

Default-user-icon nono (Guest) 01 September 2014, 15:12

FT that's not nice (:

Default-user-icon Willy Loman (Guest) 01 September 2014, 13:41

and as the dawn breaks FT coffee in hand begins his daily 14 hour shift, it's peanuts for pay but he's not in it for the money it's his jihadi duty.

Default-user-icon Willy Loman (Guest) 01 September 2014, 14:51

actually, i comment during my breaks, HAHAHAHAHA sure you do HAHAHAHAHA everybody can see that HAHAHAHAHA and there's global conspiracy to silence you HAHAHAHAHA never mind I don't want to take up any more of your time HAHAHAHAHA you have to go back HAHAHAHAHA to work, yes HAHAHAHAHA to work LOL and don't whistle while you type

Default-user-icon Willy Loman (Guest) 01 September 2014, 18:16

lol lol do you actually get over 150 breaks per day:)