Families Fear for IS-Held Troops as Hizbullah Presses Assault on Nusra

W460

Families of nine Lebanese servicemen held hostage since 2014 by the jihadist Islamic State group have expressed concerns over the fate of their sons, amid an unprecedented offensive by Hizbullah aimed at ousting all militants from the Lebanese-Syrian border region.

“I don't know how the battle will move forward but I have witnessed that the pressure is focused in a certain direction,” Hussein Youssef, the father of captive soldier Mohammed Youssef, says in an interview with LBCI TV, referring to the fact that Hizbullah's operation has so far been focused on the jihadist al-Nusra Front group although IS also has posts in the border region.

“We have nine servicemen (in IS captivity). What is their situation and what is their fate amid this pressure, bombardment and battles?” Youssef wondered.

“I'm not asking for stopping anything and I'm not saying that we should turn into a card of pressure... but everyone in this battle is responsible for the fate of these servicemen, whether the outcome turns out to be positive or negative,” he added.

He also warned that the families “will not accept accept that these servicemen turn into a victim” of any military developments.

The fate of the nine servicemen has been shrouded with mystery for around two years now and their families have organized numerous street protests to press authorities to unveil their fate and secure their release.

The nine men were among more than 30 troops and policeman who were abducted during the deadly 2014 battle the Lebanese army and IS and Nusra jihadists in and around the northeastern border town of Arsal. Four of the servicemen were eventually executed by the two groups as a fifth died of his wounds.

And while al-Nusra released 16 captives as part of a 2015 swap deal with the Lebanese state, the fate of the nine hostages who were kidnapped by IS remains unknown.

Comments 19
Thumb Mystic 23 July 2017, 18:13

The families of the Lebanese Troops should focus on avenging their loved ones, the Resistance will avenge the martyred Lebanese soldiers.

Thumb Mordekaiser 23 July 2017, 18:47

gov or hezb should have conducted a rescue opperation or exchanged prisoners long ago...
Instead they left Da7esh and Nusra alone all this time... why?
The justification was that they didn't want to compromise the lives of the captives...
So what exactly changed now? Is it because elections are just around the corner??

Thumb Mystic 23 July 2017, 18:56

Ask the Prime Minister that question, or the ex Justice Minister Rifi.
They kept an umbrella over these salafis all this time.

It was only in the end, that the Resistance realized that the Lebanese Armys hand would be cut off by the Saudis, that they intervened themselves.

Look at the results, the Lebanese Army should become an official ally of the Syrian Arab Army, that way we would be 100% Da3ish and Nusra free.

Thumb Mordekaiser 23 July 2017, 19:46

Oh! I know, just checking if the people here know!
There was a prisoner exchange deal that was cancelled due to Hezb's objections.
There was no rescue opperation because gulf objected.
Lebanon was caught between 2 opposing sides with no clear picture of who might be in control of the region after all this is over.
What has changed since then?
1)Russia joined in the fight
2)Qatar's existence depends on Iran
3)Elections got confirmed
4)CIA support for FSA stopped
5)Bashar is closer to safety than ever before
There are plenty of things going on, obviously lebanon now understands that gulf isn't as strong as it was perceived to be (Qatar issue blew back in KSA's face) while USA isn't doing much other than jabbering
on the other hand Syria, Russia and Iran are moving forward, looks like lebanon is siding with them and to hell with what gulf wants
However, no one seems to care about the prisoners, unless the fact that no one is attacking Da3ish now has any relevance.

Thumb Mordekaiser 23 July 2017, 19:46

I hope to hear about an op in the coming days that rescues them or at least some, I respect (Bring them home, no matter the cost!)
Otherwise, I have no faith in gov or hezb

Thumb Mordekaiser 23 July 2017, 20:40

It's about Syria not conforming to the wishes of the west:
1)construct pipelines from iraq, qatar and KSA to europe in order to weaken the Russian grip on Europe's energy supply...
2)construct said pipelines using debt from the International Monetary Fund and World Bank, effectively making Syria another puppet of the west...

Thumb gigahabiib 23 July 2017, 21:54

Yes lover the Mystic I agree 1000% Lebanon should be returned to Syria! It's a fake nation that was stolen from mother Syria by the imperialists and their Maronites operatives Now president Bashar Assad and the resistance are working to correct this. I am confident that president Bashar with the help of the resistance will succeed were his father failed.

Thumb gigahabiib 23 July 2017, 22:02

Mordekaiser don't laugh, even if a unified greater syria would pose a geopolitical threat to Saudi, Israel, Turkey, Iran, Egypt, Russia and USA this is going to happen because 100% of Syrians and almost 79.3% of Lebanese want it to happen. As my boyfriend the Mystic always says since the annexation of Lebanon by the hated French the people of the so called Lebanese republic have been dreaming the day they are returned to the bosom if mother Syrian and only the Sunni and the Maronites are against it. That day is near.

Thumb flamethrower-_ 23 July 2017, 19:49

lulz @Mysticmouwaten the best multi-character soliloquist and non sectarian secular mujahid Jehadi in the world!! Witty and whip smart to boot and always with the appropriate mot juste, à propos, on the money, on the button, on the nose, on target, on the mark and precise!! And so humble he will deny having more than one account!! Look at him standing up to the obviously salafi/wahhabi/zionist/da3ishi/saudi families of nine Lebanese servicemen held hostage who are trying and miserably failing to rain of the all conquering resistance. Besides he already knows that they are all dead because he's also an intelligence expert with listening devises inside the lairs of the terrorist groups!

Thumb gigahabiib 23 July 2017, 20:23

My boyfriend the Mystic told me to post this "ما بدنا جيش بلبنان إلا جيشك يا حسين". He said that it's a slogan that he learned as a boy when he was a in the resistance's kindergarten suicide squad. Funny story, when the battle in Arsal started I was worried because my heroic boyfriend the Mystic always talks about battles and war and killing. After all his rhetoric I asked him if he was going to fight in Arsal he said he was going to but then remembered he had to wash his hair. I can tell you he was devastated for missing the opportunity to go fight and kill terrorists, but he had to take care the more important task first. It's his unwavering honor and steadfast dignity that made me fall in love with my beautiful, bald headed, Mystic boyfriend.

Thumb gigahabiib 23 July 2017, 22:03

Yeah lover keep talking dirty to me!!

Thumb gigahabiib 23 July 2017, 22:10

Role playing is best isn't it lover, I love it. Your angry highly educated lunatic Hezballah member is one of your best along with your diseased Zaytouneh madam and your Romanian who was brought to M3ameltein under the pretext of becoming a dance but is getting raped by her pimp.

Thumb gigahabiib 23 July 2017, 21:46

Lover the Mystic did you ask me to post this "ما بدنا جيش بلبنان الى جيشك يا حسين" because the martyrs of the resistance are in the triple digits and we're only on day two? Is that why you sound like you losing your head? Don't get me wrong I am used to that kind of dirty talk from you when we role play but the others think you have gone completely mad. You are even attacking the Lebanese army and the families of the soldiers.

Missing humble 24 July 2017, 00:45

How can any civilized person write a decent comment in the midst of insults and bad words?

Missing humble 24 July 2017, 01:01

the very interesting information we are getting is the revelation of their objectives. They want Lebanon to unite with the most uncivilized and barbarian country on the planet... It clearly shows who is the No 1 enemy of Lebanon.
Today they parade as victors, but there is a tomorrow. Lebanon is protected by God who is pure Love and doesn't need anyone to defend HIM.
The warmongers ISIS, Nusra, Daesh, Ebola will all end up in the fires of Hell. This is a certainty.
You may win as much as you like...your eternity is with Lucifer.

Thumb theresistance4.0 24 July 2017, 15:35

Lmaooooooooooo ok princess have fun in Daesh heaven ;)

Thumb theresistance4.0 24 July 2017, 15:35

Lmaooooooooooo ok princess have fun in Daesh heaven ;)

Missing humble 24 July 2017, 10:03

It is the Maronites of Aoun who gave full support to Ebola. Without them Ebola would have been nothing.

Missing humble 24 July 2017, 10:03

It is the Maronites of Aoun who gave full support to Ebola. Without them Ebola would have been nothing.