BEIRUT: A threat reportedly made by General Security head Maj. Gen. Abbas to kill two Islamist prisoners held in Lebanese jails may have saved the lives of at least two servicemen held captive by jihadists on the Syria border.
Unconfirmed media reports Tuesday said Ibrahim has sent a message to Nusra Front, threatening to kill Joumana Hmeid and Sunni preacher Omar Atrash if the extremist group executed Lebanese policeman Ali Bazzal.
Nusra Front was reported to have threatened to execute Bazzal at 10 p.m. Monday in protest at the government’s delay in implementing a reported prisoner swap deal. However, the execution did not seem to have been carried out.
Last week, Nusra threatened to execute Bazzal if Lebanese authorities did not release Hmeid, who was formally charged by Military Prosecutor Saqr Saqr with providing assistance for Al-Qaeda-linked groups, after she was caught driving a car rigged with 50 kilograms of explosives on the Arsal-Labweh road last February.
Hmeid is the first woman to be accused of complicity with a terrorist organization since the spate of car bombs and suicide attacks targeted areas seen as sympathetic to Hezbollah over the past 18 months.
A state of confusion and panic prevailed Monday among the families of the 26 Lebanese soldiers and policemen held by militants, shortly after the Nusra Front threatened to execute Bazzal.
The families blocked roads in the north, the Bekaa Valley region and in Downtown Beirut. They also burned tires near the Grand Serail.
Shortly before midnight, Nusra announced Bazzal’s execution has been postponed.
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