ISIL Places Conditions for Seifeddine's Release
The Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant has announced its conditions for the release of Hussein Seifeddine, who was kidnapped from the northeastern border town of Arsal earlier this week, reported As Safir newspaper on Saturday.
Arsal municipal chief Ali al-Hujeiri told the daily that the ISIL informed him that it does not want to hold negotiations over him, “but it wants 150,000 dollars and three trucks loaded with food and relief aid in return for his release.”
He added however that the residents of Arsal are not willing to pay any ransom, saying that their dignity will not be compromised any longer.
As Safir said that ISIL had sent for one of the town's officials to mediate Seifeddine's release.
He reportedly returned with a positive outlook and that the jihadist group will set him free in the upcoming hours.
The residents have meanwhile given the kidnappers a few hours to release him, while others sought to ease the tensions and avoid a confrontation between the locals and the gunmen.
In a related development, As Safir said that residents from the nearby Syrian town of Qara seized local Usama Wardeh, one of Seifeddine's captors.
He informed the residents that Seifeddine's kidnapping “is out of his hands and his fate is in the hands of ISIL.”
Observers noted that there is a competition between the al-Nusra Front and ISIL groups aimed at gaining the favor of the Arsal residents.
The recent handover of the corpse of slain policeman Ali al-Bazzal is part of these attempts and it is not linked to the negotiations over the release of the Arsal captives, explained As Safir.
A number of servicemen were abducted in August by the IS and Nusra Front in the wake of clashes with the army.
Four of them were executed, a few were released, while the rest remain held.
On Thursday, the corpse of Bazzal was returned to his loved ones, several months since his murder.
Seifeddine was kidnapped on Monday from a shop owned by members of the Ezzeddine family.
Several Syrian youths were abducted in retaliation to his abduction, but they have since been freed.
M.T.
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