Report: ISIL to Release 4 Servicemen in Exchange for Jailed Women
The Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant reportedly expressed willingness to release several soldiers and policemen in its captivity in return for freeing three women held in Lebanese prisons along with their children.
According to the relatives of the captive soldiers and policemen, who were taken hostage when ISIL and the al-Qaida-affiliate al-Nusra Front overran the northeastern border town of Arsal in August, Ahmed Fleiti recently visited the outskirts of the town and met with ISIL officials.
The leaders reportedly informed him of their intention to release four soldiers from different sects as a goodwill gesture to Progressive Socialist Party leader Walid Jumblat.
However, the gunmen are demanding the release of Suja al-Dulaimi, Ola al-Iqaili and Fatima Hmeid from Lebanese prisons along with their three children in return.
Health Minister Wael Abou Faour, who is loyal to Jumblat, appointed recently the deputy of Arsal municipal chief Fleiti to negotiate with ISIL the release of the servicemen in its captivity.
Al-Dulaimi and Hmeid are charged with involving in terror acts, while Oqaili has no clear charges.
According to the report, published in Ad Diyar newspaper on Wednesday, the cabinet of Prime Minister Tammam Salam is mulling the offer and will agree on it if it was a serious deal.
The newspaper reported that Fleiti has been meeting with ministers and officials to brief them on his mediation.
Four captives have been executed so far, and the jihadists have threatened to kill the remaining hostages unless there is a deal to free Islamist prisoners in Lebanon.
Sixteen policemen and soldiers are still being held by al-Nusra, and nine by IS.
Fleiti said in comments published in the Kuwaiti newspaper al-Anbaa that his official appointment to negotiate the release of the servicemen is still “swinging” due to the sharp differences between the cabinet members.
The so-called mediator said that he is currently not communicating with any official as he is waiting for Jumblat's success in convincing the rival parties to task him with the case.
“I will not make any move without a unanimous decision to appoint me in order to avoid mistakes,” Fleiti said, revealing that the ISIL agreed on tasking him with negotiations.
Ad Diyar newspaper reported that contacts with al-Nusra Front are cut as it set the release of Baraa Mustapha al-Hujeiri a condition to resume negotiations.
Baraa is the son of wanted Sheikh Mustafa al-Hujairi, who is also known as Abu Taqiyeh and hails from Arsal.
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