Jihadists Free Soldier Kidnapped in Arsal Last Month

A Lebanese soldier kidnapped two weeks ago by jihadists near the Syrian border was freed late Tuesday and handed to General Security officers.

First Adjutant Kamal al-Hujeiri had been visiting his family when he was kidnapped from his parents' farm in the Wadi Hmeid area on the outskirts of the northeastern border town of Arsal in mid-September.

It was not immediately clear which group had been holding him, or why he was freed.

Jihadists from the Islamic State group and al-Qaida's Syrian affiliate al-Nusra Front fought battles with Lebanese troops in Arsal in August.

They withdrew after a truce to the mountains outside the town, but took army and police hostages with them as they left.

The released soldier was not among that group of hostages, three of whom have since been executed.

The families of the kidnapped soldiers and police have grown increasingly desperate, and have held daily protests throughout the country, blocking roads in a bid to draw attention to the plight of their relatives.

Negotiations for the release of the security forces kidnapped in August are ongoing, and local media reported Tuesday that a Qatari delegation had resumed efforts to secure their safe return.

Lebanese troops have continued to fight jihadists on the outskirts of Arsal, and an attack on a military patrol in the area killed two soldiers and wounded three others on September 19.

A third soldier succumbed to his wounds late Monday, the army said.