Families of Lebanese Hostages Back into Action

W460

The relatives of the servicemen taken hostage by jihadists last year have warned to take escalatory measures starting Sunday to pressure the authorities into bringing the captives back home.

In a statement they released on Saturday, the families accused the authorities of neglecting the cause of the soldiers and policemen who were taken hostage by the Islamic State and al-Nusra Front when they overran the northeastern border town of Arsal in August 2014.

They said they would resort to “painful escalatory measures to reprioritize their cause.”

The statement said that the relatives would start taking action on Sunday and will announce their next move from downtown Beirut's Riad al-Solh square.

They appealed to “supporters” and people with “conscience” to stand by their side at 12:00 pm Sunday.

The families have been blocking roads and holding sit-ins since their loved-ones were taken captive following bloody gunbattles between the Lebanese army and the jihadists more than a year ago.

A few of the captives have been released and four were executed.

Negotiations aimed at their release have stalled.

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