Meqdad Denies Death of Abu Ibrahim: Efforts Are Ongoing to Release Lebanese Pilgrims

The Free Syrian Army denied on Wednesday the death of the abductor of the 11 Lebanese pilgrims in Syria.

"Abu Ibrahim is still alive and he is being treated from a minor injury in a Turkish hospital,” FSA's Political and Media Coordinator Louay Meqdad told Future television.

Meqdad also revealed that all kidnapped pilgrims are in “good health and in a safe place near the Syrian-Turkish border”.

He remarked: “Our efforts are still ongoing to release the Lebanese men”.

Al-Jadeed had reported earlier on Wednesday that Abu Ibrahim was killed in Syria, quoting informed Lebanese sources that confirmed these reports.

The FSA had announced on Thursday that it decided to resume the mediation in the pilgrims' case after former Prime Minister Saad Hariri urged Meqdad to do so.

On May 22, eleven Lebanese pilgrims were kidnapped in Syria's Aleppo district as they were making their way back by land from a pilgrimage in Iran.

One was released in late August and another in September, while the rest remain in Aazaz, Syria.