The following are a selection of stories from Lebanese newspapers that may be of interest to Daily Star readers. The Daily Star cannot vouch for the accuracy of these reports.
An-Nahar
The safety of soldiers is a red line, Machnouk and Ibrahim to Doha
Ministerial sources told An-Nahar that Lebanon informed concerned parties involved in the negotiation that harming the captured soldiers was a red line and that Lebanon would respond to such acts in the appropriate way. The sources also said that the emergency committee tasked with following up on the hostage crisis was working on three things: verifying the number of soldiers captured as well as the location of the militants, preserving the security of the captured soldiers and seeking opportunities available to bring them back.
The government has also informed concerned parties that the Lebanese government could take action if a soldier were harmed, including carrying out the death sentence against Islamist convicts and that there are ISIS and Nusra Front cells in Lebanon that could be in danger.
As-Safir
The Qatari mediation: Money and speedy trails
Lebanese diplomatic sources told Assafir that U.N. Special Coordinator for Lebanon Derek Plumbly had visited Saudi Arabia after Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian had departed Jeddah. Plumbly's visit is part of his mission to follow up on the presidential election in light of the Saudi-Iranian rapprochement.
The sources said that Saudi Foreign Minister Saud al-Faisal remained adamant on his veto against MP Michel Aoun's nomination and that he urged politicians to begin looking into consensus candidates instead of the four main Maronite figures.
A Lebanese security source said that the Qatari delegation, which is mediating negotiations between Lebanon and militants holding Lebanese soldiers, returned with guarantees that the gunmen would not harm the soldiers for a period of a month in return for an amount of money paid by Qatar and Lebanon speeding up trials of Islamist detainees.
Al-Akhbar
Crucifixion, abductions and murders in the occupied Bekaa outskirts
The occupiers of the Bekaa outskirts now have authority over Lebanese villages and are raiding homes, kidnapping people and placing others on trials. Their recent crimes are killing a Lebanese citizen and crucifying a Syrian boy.
The names do not matter anymore. Nusra Front, ISIS, the Green Brigade or Abdullah Azzam Brigades; they all fall under terrorism that has taken over Arsal, the town and its outskirts.
The body of Lebanese Kayed Ghadadh was returned to Arsal with a gunshot to his head. Earlier this week, gunmen kidnapped him for his house and took him to the outskirts where they carried out a court decision. His body was still warm when it was handed over to his family. One of his family members said: "The state cannot do anything. So why do you expect us to do anything?"
Al-Joumhouria
The Qatari mediator met with the kidnappers and received their demands
Justice Minister Ashraf Rifi said after the end of the emergency committee meeting that the Army would be in charge of military measures needed in Arsal with the approval of the government.
Asked whether such measures could place the lives of soldiers at risk, Rifi said: "Why would it? ... Any measure the government might take could have worrying consequences. But the government, as a political authority, has reached a consensus and is standing united over this issue and that is important.”
Rifi told Al-Joumhouria that the government would remain tight-lipped on decisions made during the meeting, saying such a case had become a "national concern and it is no longer about a party or a sect.”
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