Families of Arsal Captives Fear for Sons' Lives after Asir's Arrest

The relatives of the servicemen abducted by the Islamic State and al-Nusra Front extremist groups voiced their concern that the arrest of Salafist cleric Sheikh Ahmed al-Asir will “negatively affect” negotiations on the captives' release, reported the pan-Arab daily al-Hayat on Sunday.

Hussein Youssef, father of hostage Mohammed Youssef, told the daily: “The state's announcement of Asir's arrest will negatively affect negotiations if there even are negotiations.”

“The state has the right to arrest a fugitive or suspect, but why did it have to announce it?” he wondered.

“Do they want to hinder negotiations in our file?” he asked the daily.

Another relative noted: “Matters have become more complicated after Asir's arrest.”

He expressed concern that the captors will once again resort to threatening to kill the hostages.

The servicemen were kidnapped in the wake of clashes with the IS and al-Nusra Front in the northeastern border town of Arsal in August 2014.

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

The kidnappers are reportedly demanding the release of a number of Islamist prisoners from Lebanese jails in exchange for their release.

Asir was arrested at Beirut's Rafik Hariri International Airport on Saturday as he attempted to leave the country to Nigeria through Egypt.

The firebrand anti-Hizbullah cleric is wanted for his involvement in the clashes against the army in the southern city of Sidon in 2013.