Captive Troops' Families Threaten Escalation, Some Accuse Hizbullah of Hindering Negotiations

Families of Lebanese troops abducted by Syria-based militants on Sunday threatened to escalate their protests across Lebanon to press for the release of their loves ones, as some of them accused Hizbullah of obstructing negotiations between the Lebanese government and the kidnappers.

“We have been giving negotiations a chance but we haven't sensed any serious efforts,” families of captive troops said in Beirut's Martyrs Square, declaring an end to their “peaceful sit-in” and vowing to step up their moves.

“The slaughter of our sons did not shake the conscience of the officials,” they lamented, referring to the recent executions of the soldiers Ali al-Sayyed, Abbas Medlej and Mohammed Hamiyeh at the hands of Islamic State and al-Nusra Front extremists.

The families warned that “the Lebanese government, whose decision is usurped by Hizbullah, will be responsible for anything that might happen to our sons.”

They accused Hizbullah of obstructing the negotiations while holding talks with al-Nusra to free its own captive fighters.

“Who benefited from firing at the initiative of the Muslim Scholars Committee? Who benefited from firing at the family of the abductee George Khoury (while on its way back from meeting its son in Arsal's outskirts?)” the families asked.

They warned that “the decision to resort to the military solution, which Hizbullah managed to impose on the government, represents the biggest threat to our sons' lives.”

“Pinning the blame on Arsal's residents aims to deviate attention from Hizbullah's acts and we were surprised that some other families did not take part in the sit-in due to Hizbullah's pressures,” the relatives added, referring to the families of the captive troops who hail from the Bekaa.

“We urge al-Nusra Front and the Islamic State to release our sons and we announce the end of the peaceful sit-in in downtown Beirut,” the Beirut protesters said.

“Expect everything from us from now on,” they cautioned.

According to information obtained by Future TV, the families intend to block the vital highway between the North and Beirut “to press the government to exert serious efforts and release Islamist detainees from its prisons."

Earlier on Sunday, families of captive troops who hail from the North staged a sit-in on the Qalamun highway near Tripoli.

They also warned that they might cut off the highway between the North and Beirut indefinitely in addition to a number of roads across all regions.

“Expect everything from us,” the families cautioned.

“We might force the closure of entire Lebanon,” one of them said, addressing Lebanese officials.

The protesters also slammed the MPs who represent their region over their absence from sit-ins and failure to exert “serious” efforts to secure the release of their relatives.

“We want the freedom of our sons and if obstacles are hindering the negotiations, let that be publicly declared,” the protesters said in a statement.

The country witnessed road-blocking protests and sectarian kidnappings in the wake of the abduction of around 35 troops and policemen from the Bekaa border town of Arsal during clashes between the army and Syria-based jihadist militants.

The tensions escalated after the armed groups executed three captive soldiers.

In late August and early September, two soldiers were beheaded by the ruthless Islamic State group. And on Saturday, al-Nusra Front announced that the group killed another soldier.

On Saturday, the government held an emergency security meeting and announced that it “stands united by the army in its open war against terrorists and rejects blackmail in the case of abducted soldiers.”

“The threats of executing the soldiers by the terrorists are the main reasons that hindered the negotiation efforts to release the captives,” the government said.

It gave instructions to the chiefs of the army and security forces to “take all conducive measures to apply military plans," calling for "zero tolerance with everything that threatens the integrity of Lebanon, the region of Arsal and its outskirts."

Y.R.