New Wave of Tit-for-Tat Abductions in Arsal, al-Labweh

A fresh wave of tit-for-tat kidnappings erupted on Thursday between members of the Jaafar clan and residents of the Bekaa town of Arsal, after mediators almost managed to secure a swap deal between the rival parties, state-run National News Agency reported.

Arsal residents abducted four members of the Jaafar clan and a member of the al-Rachiini family who were working in the vicinity of Arsal, NNA said.

The Jaafar clan kidnapped Arsal resident Bilal Ezzedine on the Arsal-al-Labweh road in retaliation, the agency added.

Radio Voice of Lebanon (93.3) said the clan also seized the driver Hussein Audeh who hails from Arsal.

It identified the rest of the hostages as Ali al-Rachiini, Ali Karami Jaafar, Hasan Nazir Jaafar, Mohammed Ali Jaafar and Mohsen Jaafar.

The army reinforced its checkpoints and measures in the region, NNA said.

The kidnappings and counter-kidnappings started after the abduction of Hussein Jaafar, who hails from the town of al-Bustan in Hermel, on March 24.

Media reports said unidentified gunmen took Jaafar to Syria.