BEIRUT: The Syrian government has set conditions for helping secure the release of Lebanese servicemen held hostage by Islamist militants along the northeastern border, Al-Liwaa said Tuesday.
The local newspaper, citing diplomatic sources, said Syria has conditioned its participation in the hostage release process on including an official request from the Lebanese government, asking the Syrian government to help facilitate the release of those listed in ISIS’s and Nusra Front’s name lists.
Another condition calls for rejecting pressure from either side to release Free Syrian Army commander Col. Abdallah AL-Rifai, according to the sources.
The Syrian government has also conditioned that Lebanon retracts its decision relating to coordination between the Lebanese Army and the Syrian army to combat terrorism and prevent ISIS and Nusra from spreading further to the north or the east.
A ministerial source, however, was doubtful that the Lebanese government would respond to the Syrian terms.
“Those conditions are not easy for the Lebanese government to deal with, due to their sensitivity and because they push the Lebanese government to ‘normalize’ relations with the regime, away from any Arab or international support,” the source told Al-Liwaa.
A Qatari mediator has been negotiating the release of the at least 27 Lebanese soldiers and policemen held captive since early August after Islamist militants briefly took over the northeastern border town of Arsal.
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