Islamic State Kidnaps 3 Lebanese Men in Arsal

Extremist militants have kidnapped three Lebanese men in the northeastern border town of Arsal, the state-run National News Agency reported on Tuesday.

“The number of those abducted from the town of Arsal has risen to three, after the kidnap of Mustafa Zaarour, 39, and Ali Ezzeddine, 23,” NNA said in the afternoon.

“The fate of the three abductees held by Daesh (Islamic State group) is still unknown,” the agency added.

It had earlier reported that assailants from the IS abducted on Monday night Younes al-Hujeiri, who owns a stone quarry, in the area of Wadi Hmeid.

IS and al-Qaida-linked al-Nusra Front militants are hiding in the mountains on the porous border area between Lebanon and Syria.

In August, they overran Arsal and engaged in bloody gunbattles with the Lebanese army.

The fighters took with them hostages from the military and police and later executed four of them.

There are ongoing negotiations to release the captives.

G.K./Y.R.