Report: Turkish-Iranian Initiative Could Salvage Arsal Captives

An Iranian-Turkish initiative to open safe channels for the Syrian al-Qalamoun jihadists to move to other Syrian regions could bring along a solution to the thorny file of the abducted Arsal servicemen and even their release, al-Joumhouria daily quoted diplomatic sources on Saturday.

The well-informed sources said on condition of anonymity that a Turkish-Iranian initiative kicked off recently in a bid to open new channels for the northern al-Qalamoun gunmen to move to other Syrian regions and could be paralleled with a deal to free the Arsal captives.

The deal, which according to reports, is blessed by a Saudi “non-objection” still requires the approval of the Syrian regime to determine the regions where the militants are set to move, thus bringing on hope on the release of the abductees.

More than 25 soldiers and policemen were abducted by al-Nusra Front and Islamic State group gunmen in the wake of clashes in the northeastern border town of Arsal in August.

A few of them have since been released, four were executed, and the rest remain held.

General Security chief Maj. Gen. Abbas Ibrahim stated in April that efforts to free the Lebanese servicemen are ongoing but that there is no timetable for their release.

The captors are demanding the release of Islamists held in Lebanon as a condition for their release.

D.A.

M.T.