Al-Nusra Alleges Place of Abducted Soldiers Bombed, Families Postpone Escalation

Al-Nusra Front announced on Wednesday evening “an attempt to target” the place of the kidnapped servicemen by the Lebanese and the Syrian army. On the other hand, a family of abducted soldier by the Islamic State visited their son and the families postponed their escalation.

Al-Nusra revealed through its “al-Qalamoun Reporter” on Twitter that: “shells fired by the Lebanese army and barrel bombs dropped by Syrian aircraft have targeted the place where the Lebanese servicemen are being held.” “Who will pay the price?” it added.

But LBCI said: “The army denies bombing or targeting any site in the outskirts of Arsal.” While MTV also stated: “The army did not use its artillery today.”

The so-called ministerial crisis cell held a meeting in the Grand Serail under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Tammam Salam, “and the gathered members left without any statement,” it told MTV.

Afterward, the families told MTV: “We are not asking for a nationality for our children and ourselves, we have dignity but you (the officials) do not have dignity, if you had dignity the sons of the country wouldn't have been kidnapped until today.”

"The roads of Dahr al-Baydar, al-Kalamoon and Downtown Beirut will be blocked tomorrow,” they added.

According to LBCI: “After Maj. Kheir and Abou Faour visited the families and gave them reassurances, they postponed their escalation until further notice.”

Moreover, MTV stated: “The family of soldier Khaled al-Hassan, who is abducted by the Islamic State in the outskirts of Arsal, visited their son today.”

The families of the kidnapped soldiers had announced from Riad al-Solh after meeting with the Turkish Ambassador Inan Ozyildiz that “they sensed serious positiveness in engaging in their case.”

"The ambassador promised to transfer their demands to the Kurdish government and advised them to listen to the Prime Minister Tammam Salam and and General Director of Public Security Major General Abbas Ibrahim,” they added.

According to LBCI the ambassador said he can help in the case of al-Nusra Front but they have no contact with the Islamic State.

The families also expressed their dissatisfaction with the government decision to exchange prisoners.

Z.A.