Mukhtar al-Thaqfi Brigade Joins al-Meqdad Clan in Kidnapping Syrians
An obscure group calling itself Mukhtar al-Thaqfi Brigade claimed on Thursday that it kidnapped members of the Free Syrian Army in Lebanon after the spokesman of al-Meqdad clan vowed to abduct more Syrian nationals in retaliation for the seizure of a family member in Syria.
LBCI TV aired a videotape of alleged FSA members calling on Syrian rebels to release Hassan al-Meqdad who was kidnapped in Syria this week.
Claiming to be Mukhtar al-Thaqfi Brigade members, the masked kidnappers said from their base in Beirut's southern suburbs that five Syrians have so far been seized in Beirut and another five in the eastern Bekaa valley.
One of them told LBCI's reporter that the militants will expand their operations to other areas if al-Meqdad was not released.
Immediately after the video was aired, the TV station said another Syrian identified as Hussam Yehya Khashroum, 42, was kidnapped by four gunmen near Chtaura hospital in the Bekaa.
LBCI reported later on Thursday that the group released four abductees "as a gesture of goodwill on the occasion of Eid al-Fitr."
"The group said it will keep 15 Syrians in its custody and asked the Syrian people to help release the Lebanese abductees," LBCI added.
The brigade’s announcement came after al-Meqdad clan’s spokesman Maher al-Meqdad reiterated that the family’s military wing will abduct more Syrian nationals unless FSA rebels release the man.
The wave of hostage-taking has prompted Gulf countries to call on all their citizens in Lebanon to leave immediately.
But Maher told the National News Agency that “neither Gulf nor Arab citizens have anything to do with the kidnapping operation.”
“The problem of al-Meqdad family is with the abductors or so-called FSA,” he said.
The clan is waiting for an initiative from the International Committee of the Red Cross to meet with Hassan, he added.
The family’s military wing has reportedly so far arrested around 20 Syrians and a Turkish citizen, although the Turkish embassy did not confirm the allegation.
| Copyright © 2012 Naharnet.com. All Rights Reserved. | https://naharnet.com/stories/en/50250 |