Berri Deems as 'Scandal' Images of Nusra in Arsal as he Congratulates Servicemen on Release
إقرأ هذا الخبر بالعربية
Speaker Nabih Berri hailed on Wednesday the release of the servicemen who were held hostage by the al-Qaida-affiliated al-Nusra Front, but lamented the “scandal” that accompanied their release in the northeastern border region of Arsal.
He said: “The footage of the gunmen on the outskirts of Arsal is a scandal against Lebanon's sovereignty.”
He made his remarks during his weekly meeting with lawmakers at his Ain el-Tineh residence.
“We however congratulate the families of the released servicemen on their loved ones' freedom,” Berri added.
Al-Nusra Front released on Tuesday all 16 of the hostages it had abducted from Arsal in the wake of clashes with the army in August 2014.
They were released in a Qatari-sponsored deal that included a prisoner swap with inmates in Lebanese and Syrian jails.
Footage of the exchange on Tuesday showed images of gunmen from the Nusra Front freely roaming the outskirts of Arsal.
Commenting on the latest political developments, Berri stressed before his visitors the importance of dialogue “to bolster the consensual atmosphere.”
“Dialogue will remain the correct path to solving our problems,” he added.
The Islamic State had also kidnapped a number of servicemen after the August clashes.
Nine are still being held by it.
M.T.
D.A.
02 December 2015, 15:16
93
True that. But now that the soldiers have been released, the army can go after the gunmen :)
02 December 2015, 15:33
45
Dear God!!!! Dear Lord!!!!
Even on an article as insignificant as this I find you mowaten spamming, trolling, and terrorizing other posters. What kind of a being are you? New and fresh evidence surfaces by the minute that you are a paid poster but the question remains who pays you and for what exact purpose? Is it the Iranian embassy, is it the revolutionary guard, is it the syrian intelligence or the ex-KGB? These questions must be objectively answered by you and NOW!
02 December 2015, 15:20
45
Of course it's a scandal asteez Nabih, Sayyed Hassin claimed his jihadis liberated the Qalamoun, total victory, a rout of terrorists.. unfortunately he was routing them our way towards the Lebanese border.
02 December 2015, 15:36
47
Images of the filthy sectarian gangs of hezbollah in Syrian villages killing women and children are not scandalous according to this filthy iranian.
02 December 2015, 15:44
46
New emerging reports indicate that armed Amal thugs have been sighted stealing car in Beirut.
If you have a parked car there, especially with a valet, make sure he doesn't belong to the chosen ones, ashraf nass.
