Union of Arab Tribes Chief Receives Pledge to Release Stranded Lebanese Drivers at Syria-Jordan Border

Head of the union of Arab tribes Sheikh Jassem al-Askar revealed that he is carrying out a series of contacts with a number of tribe leaders, who wield influence in Syria, to ensure the release of the Lebanese truck drivers who have been stranded since Wednesday on the Syrian-Jordanian border, reported al-Akhbar newspaper on Saturday.

He told the daily that he “received a pledge to release the drivers.”

“The group holding the captives demanded the license plate numbers of the stranded vehicles after it vowed to release them,” he added.

He told the daily however that he will not fulfill their demand without coordinating with the concerned Lebanese security agencies.

Omar al-Ali, head of the Lebanese refrigerated truck union, meanwhile said that the fate of the drivers is unknown, predicting that they may be in the hands of Syrian opposition groups, reported An Nahar daily on Saturday.

He said that the drivers hail from the towns of Saadnayel and Bar Elias, while others are from the northern city of Tripoli.

Efforts to release them were launched as soon as news of their alleged abduction broke out, amid claims that they were being held by the extremist al-Nusra Front group.

The group is reportedly demanding 50,000 dollars for the release of each captive, added the daily.

The Free Syrian Army later showed footage of the drivers, saying that they were freed from regime forces that were using them as human shields, reported Voice of Lebanon radio (100.5).

At least 30 Lebanese truck drivers are stranded on the Syrian-Jordanian border after rebels seized the Syrian side, prompting Amman to close a frontier crossing, Ali said Friday.

Between 30 and 35 Lebanese drivers and their trucks and refrigerated vehicles have been trapped in the free zone on the Jordanian-Syrian border since Wednesday.

Ali said the drivers were trying to cross from Syria into Jordan, but were stranded after Amman closed the Nasib crossing.

The drivers entered the crossing on Wednesday, as a group of rebels, backed by al-Nusra Front, seized control of it after clashes with government forces.

A Lebanese government source said contacts were underway with Amman to "facilitate the entry of the drivers."

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a Britain-based monitor, said around 300 cars and trucks were stuck at the crossing, and reported looting of the border passage by rebels and local residents.