Salam Vows to 'End Plight' of Captive Servicemen, Urges President Election

Prime Minister Tammam Salam vowed Sunday that the Lebanese state will “spare no effort” to secure the release of nine troops and policemen who are being held hostage by the Islamic State group.

“I salute the Army Command and all military personnel over their sacrifices in defending Lebanon and protecting its security and stability,” said Salam in a series of tweets marking Army Day.

“On the occasion of Army Day, we bow remembering the martyrs who fell in the confrontation against the Israeli enemy and the fight against the terrorist groups,” the PM added.

“We stress to the families of the servicemen who are being held captive by terrorist groups that the State will spare no effort to end this plight,” Salam promised.

Earlier in the day, the hostages' families vowed to resume their street protests to press authorities to address the case.

The fate of the nine servicemen has been shrouded with mystery for several months now and the families are demanding to know whether theirs sons are alive or dead.

The soldiers and policemen were among more than 30 servicemen who were abducted during the deadly 2014 battle between jihadists and the Lebanese army in and around the northeastern border town of Arsal.

While al-Nusra Front released 16 captives as part of a swap deal in December 2015, nine hostages remain in the captivity of the IS group and Lebanese officials have vowed to exert efforts to secure their release.

Separately, Salam called on the nation's lawmakers to “perform their constitutional duty and elect a president as soon as possible.”