BEIRUT: General Security denied Tuesday releasing FSA commander Abdullah Hussein Rifai, while announcing that his freedom was contingent on negotiations to secure the release of Lebanese captives held by jihadis.
According to a General Security statement, “Rifai is still detained with the General Security after being referred to the relevant judicial authorities.”
The fate of the Rifai, who was arrested last month, is tied to negotiations to secure the release of 26 Lebanese servicemen who are being held hostage by ISIS and the Nusra Front.
The statement denied rumors that the detainee was handed over to Hezbollah for the purpose of a swap deal that secured the release of one of the party’s fighters who was released by the FSA last week.
“This news is incorrect and his not link to the truth whatsoever."
Last month, Military Prosecutor Judge Saqr issued a decision to release Rifai after he had been detained for nine days for allegedly attempting to sneak into Lebanon’s outskirts, according to judicial sources.
After the decision, the judge handed Rifai over to General Security, which was set to issue a decision concerning the legality of the commander’s presence in Lebanon.
After arresting Rifai in Arsal on Nov. 9, the Army said it confiscated a fake Lebanese ID in his possession. Rifai, according to the statement, confessed to belonging to one of Syria's armed rebel groups.
Rifai, however, was not subject to official charges after preliminary interrogations carried out by military intelligence revealed that the suspect in question hadn’t committed any crime on Lebanese territory nor did he have the intent to do so.
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