Report: Ibrahim Visited Syria over Aazaz Pilgrims Ongoing Abduction

General Security chief Abbas Ibrahim “secretly” traveled to the neighboring country Syria last week and held talks with senior officials over the case of the Lebanese Shiite pilgrims abducted in Syria’s Aazaz region, a report said on Monday.

According to al-Joumhouria newspaper, Ibrahim received “encouraging” answers that might help in the “complicated” negotiations with the kidnappers over the matter.

Sources told the newspaper that Ibrahim also achieved further progress with the Turkish authorities.

However, the sources didn't specify a timeframe for the release of the nine abducted men.

Eleven Lebanese pilgrims were kidnapped in Syria's Aleppo region in May 2012 as they were making their way back by land to Lebanon from pilgrimage in Iran.

Two of the captives have since been released, while the rest remain held in Aazaz.

The families of the pilgrims have mainly held Turkey responsible for their ongoing abduction.

The families of the captives have held Turkey mainly responsible for the ongoing abduction of the men, vowing to target Turkish interests in Lebanon in order to pressure Ankara to exert efforts to release the pilgrims.

They have held numerous demonstrations near the headquarters of Turkish Airlines in Beirut as part of these actions.