Salam Welcomes Freed Servicemen at Grand Serail, Thanks Qatar as Ibrahim Lauds Hariri, Nasrallah

Prime Minister Tammam Salam and General Security chief Maj. Gen. Abbas Ibrahim on Tuesday saluted all the local and external parties that contributed to the release of 16 servicemen who were held by al-Nusra Front, during an emotional welcoming ceremony that was held at the Grand Serail.

“Our heroes endured and persevered and we also endured with them, which allowed us to achieve this joy. I cannot but remember the martyrs on this occasion, the last of whom was Mohammed Hamiyeh,” Salam said, referring to four servicemen who were executed by al-Nusra and the Islamic State group.

“Trust your State and government,” he added, addressing the Lebanese.

“We will carry on with our efforts to make more achievements,” Salam vowed.

Uncertainty is still shrouding the fate of nine other servicemen who were also kidnapped in August 2014 from the northeastern border town of Arsal at the hands of the IS.

“Domestic efforts were exerted through the government, the crisis cell and all the security agencies,” Salam announced.

“The judicial authorities have also helped us to cross to freedom and to Lebanon's dignity,” he added.

“In the name of you all, I extend gratitude to all the countries and leaders who contributed to this happy ending, especially the State of Qatar and its emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad,” Salam said.

At the domestic level, Salam said he especially thanks Maj. Gen. Ibrahim and the General Security institution.

For his part, Ibrahim said he is “awaiting the day of joy when we recover the IS-held servicemen.”

“I thank the members of the crisis cell. I thank ex-PM Saad Hariri who supported us in the negotiations and I thank (Hizbullah chief) Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah but I will not go into details now,” he added.

“Because Lebanon is the country of freedom you have returned free. You have returned to the State and to your country and families,” Ibrahim went on to say.

“We thank everyone who contributed to our efforts … The negotiations were difficult but we did not renounce our sovereignty,” he stated.

The 16 hostages -- 13 policemen and three soldiers -- were transferred from territory held by the Qaida-linked al-Nusra on the mountainous border with Syria by Lebanon's Red Cross.

Hours later, the freed men arrived in Beirut, dressed in their police and military uniforms, clean-shaven, and with their hair freshly cut.

Y.R.