Relatives Fail to Meet Arsal Captives

The relatives of four servicemen taken captive by Islamist groups from the northeastern border town of Arsal in 2014 failed on Saturday to meet their loved ones.

“The four families of the kidnapped soldiers were not able to enter the outskirts of Arsal to visit their sons,” the state-run National News Agency said.

The relatives first met with the town's mayor, Ali al-Hujeiri, early Saturday and were set to head to the outskirts to meet their loved ones.

But it was not clear what stopped them short of making the visit.

Three vehicles had transported the 12-member families to Arsal.

A number of soldiers and policemen were abducted by al-Nusra Front and Islamic State group gunmen in the wake of clashes in Arsal in August last year

A few of them have since been released, four were executed, and the rest remain held.

The captors are demanding the release of Islamists held in Lebanon as a condition for their release.