Ibrahim: Will not Stop Trying to Free Servicemen Despite Blackmail Policy

General Security chief Maj. Gen. Abbas Ibrahim said on Monday that he will not stop the attempts to release the kidnapped soldiers after the set back suffered on Sunday due to the last minute impossible demands set by the kidnappers, al-Joumhouria daily reported on Monday.

“I will not stop working and striving. I will continue the efforts despite the policy of blackmail. Those are our sons and the sons of the nation and I will not give up on them,” he told the daily.

“We have engaged in arduous negotiations with the kidnappers. We have shown flexibility in meeting new demands and conditions of al-Nusra and we completed all requirements needed to finalize the deal until things got to the point that we can no longer respond to kidnappers impossible demands that were introduced in the last 15 minutes,” he said.

Negotiations to free the Lebanese servicemen who were abducted by al-Nusra Front suffered a setback on Sunday afternoon, after steps on the ground and media reports gave the impression earlier in the day that the exchange was imminent.

Media reports said that some obstacles emerged in the final moments but that the negotiations have not stopped.

The troops were abducted during deadly clashes in August 2014 between the army and militants from al-Nusra and the Islamic State group in and around Arsal.

Nineteen troops were killed in the fighting as 35 soldiers and policemen were taken hostage. Al-Nusra later released seven security personnel who were in its custody.

The two groups later executed four servicemen and were threatening to kill more if Lebanese authorities do not fulfill their demands.