Release of Hostages Reportedly Awaits Qatar's 'Ransom Payment'

The release of the Lebanese servicemen taken hostage by jihadists last year is awaiting Qatar's payment of a ransom, which is part of the prisoner exchange deal, al-Akhbar daily reported on Thursday.

The newspaper quoted ministerial sources as saying that the release of the hostages hinged on the payment of “huge amounts of money to the terrorists as part of the deal.”

The Islamic State group and al-Nusra Front took the soldiers and policemen hostage when they overran the northeastern border town of Arsal in August last year.

While the negotiations carried out by an envoy from Qatar with al-Nusra Front have made progress, the talks with the IS have hit a standstill over their crippling demands.

But there have been claims in the past two days that the IS is ready to restart the negotiations.

Al-Nusra Front has reportedly said it would release the servicemen in its captivity in return for freeing around 16 Islamists from Lebanon’s Roumieh prison.

The procrastination in the prisoner exchange and the paralysis in the talks with the IS have angered the relatives of the hostages, who on Tuesday blocked the Qalamoun highway which is a vital link between Tripoli and Beirut.

Several family members talked to al-Mustaqbal daily published on Thursday about their suffering.

They hoped that the so-called crisis cell headed by Prime Minister Tammam Salam would exert more efforts during the holy month of Ramadan to bring back their loved ones home.

The relatives also criticized the policy adopted by the Lebanese authorities on not divulging any information on the case.