BEIRUT: Lebanese authorities and Nusra Front jihadis have yet to agree on the number of prisoners the militants want freed in return for releasing captured Lebanese servicemen, a representative of the hostages’ families said Sunday. Negotiating parties have yet to agree on technical details such as the number of prisoners demanded in return for the servicemen and the method of carrying out the swap, Hussein Youssef, the father of captive servicemen Mohammad Youssef, told The Daily Star.
Youssef’s comments came one day after Maj. Gen. Abbas Ibrahim, the head of the General Security who is tasked by the government with negotiating the release of the hostages, cited progress in talks.
“We have come a long way in the negotiations over the captive servicemen and no dramatic developments are anticipated,” Ibrahim told NBN TV Saturday.
“Any case could see both breakthroughs and setbacks,” Ibrahim said. “But according to my experience, the setbacks [in this case] have become kind of unlikely.”
The positive developments in the case make it unlikely that the execution of hostages would resume, Ibrahim said.
“Abbas Ibrahim has told us that the difficult part is behind us and what is left is to negotiate are minor issues,” Youssef confirmed.
At least 25 Lebanese soldiers and policemen are still held captive by ISIS and the Nusra Front in the northeastern border town of Arsal after over 30 servicemen were kidnapped during a five-day battle in August.
While the Nusra Front is demonstrating flexibility in negotiations and in accepting a swap deal, ISIS is taking a more hard-line stance. Nusra holds around 16 of the 25 captives.
So far, the Nusra Front has shot dead two hostages and ISIS has beheaded two others. Nusra has also released eight.
Army commander Gen. Jean Kahwagi Saturday vowed to “bring back all the captives held by terrorist groups whatever the price of the sacrifices.”
Youssef said that government officials involved in negotiating the servicemen’s release have relayed the possibility of a “breakthrough” materializing at the end of the month.
Lebanon has reportedly agreed to swap Islamist prisoners for the captive serviceman held hostage by jihadis, as part of a settlement that may also include a ransom payment.
Families of the captives are blocking a major road in Downtown Beirut as a means to pressure the government to intensify efforts.
After holding protests and blocking roads almost on a daily basis in previous months, the families scaled down their action in light of reports that negotiations had made progress.
The daily Al-Sharq al-Awsat reported Sunday that the resumption of Qatar’s role as a mediator between the Lebanese government and the Nusra Front has led negotiations to take on a more serious turn. – The Daily Star
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