Captive Lebanese Fighter Appears in Nusra Front Video

A captive Lebanese fighter has appeared in a video released by al-Nusra Front, al-Qaida's Syria branch, a monitor said on Wednesday.

“The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights has received a copy of a video showing regime forces and allied fighters who were captured days ago at the al-Safa checkpoint in the outskirts of Rankous in the western Qalamoun region,” the Observatory said.

The video shows four captives, including the Lebanese fighter, knowing that fourteen combatants were apprehended by al-Nusra, the monitor added. The Observatory did not mention the name of the Lebanese captive in its statement.

In the video, the captives urge the Syrian army and its allies not to enter the towns of Hureira and Ifra in Wadi Barada or else the hostages would be “killed.”

The Observatory also noted that warplanes and Syrian army forces had shelled Hureira, Ifra and other Wadi Barada areas on Wednesday, amid clashes between regime forces, backed by allied militants, and rebel and Islamist groups.

Al-Safa checkpoint separates between Rankous' western outskirts and the peripheries of the Barada Valley, according to media reports.

The Observatory reported on July 7 that Islamist rebels and jihadists from al-Nusra Front had seized control of the checkpoint and captured armored vehicles and ammunition belonging to the regime forces and Hizbullah.

It also reported casualties on both sides, including four Islamist rebels and jihadists.