Report: Ibrahim in Turkey this Week after Positive Developments on Hostages

إقرأ هذا الخبر بالعربية W460

General Security chief Maj. Gen. Abbas Ibrahim is expected to visit Istanbul this week to meet with Qatar's envoy who is mediating the release of Lebanese servicemen taken captive by jihadists, al-Mustaqbal newspaper reported on Thursday.

His trip would come after encouraging signs emerged following the meeting of the crisis cell on the fate of the soldiers and policemen who were taken hostage by al-Qaida-linked al-Nusra Front fighters from the northeastern border town of Arsal in August last year.

Islamic State group jihadists also took hostages with them when they overran Arsal but the negotiations with the IS have stalled over their crippling demands.

Qatar's mediator is trying to strike a deal with al-Nusra Front on the release of the Lebanese hostages in a prisoner swap.

According to al-Mustaqbal, the captives will soon be set free in return for releasing several suspects who have been imprisoned in Lebanon on suspicion of committing terrorist crimes without being convicted.

G.K.

H.K.

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