Kuwaiti Citizen Abducted in Bekaa Released

A Kuwaiti citizen abducted on Saturday in the Bekaa Valley was released on Monday and taken to the army barracks in Ablah.

“Prime Minister Najib Miqati has been informed by Interior Minister Marwan Charbel that the kidnapped Kuwaiti citizen Issam Nasser al-Houti has been released,” state-run National News Agency reported.

Miqati thanked the security agencies and “everyone who contributed to releasing the abducted Kuwaiti citizen, especially the (Bekaa) region’s residents.”

MTV said al-Houti was taken to the barracks of the Lebanese army in Ablah in the Bekaa.

Charbel had told MTV that the abductee would be released on Monday.

Unknown gunmen on Saturday nabbed al-Houti from outside his residence in the Bekaa town of Hawsh al-Ghanam. Reports said the three captors hail from the Bekaa town of Britel and were led by a fugitive from the Ismail family.

Shortly after his release, al-Houti telephoned Speaker Nabih Berri, thanking him for “the extensive efforts he exerted to secure his release,” NNA said.

Berri for his part telephoned Kuwaiti Ambassador to Lebanon Abdul Aal al-Qinai and informed him that al-Houti is in good health.

A press conference will be held this evening in Britel at the residence of Bassam Tleis, member of AMAL Movement’s Executive Committee, to explain the efforts exerted to free the hostage, NNA said.