A man abducted Friday on his way to the northeastern town of Arsal has been freed, a security source told The Daily Star Sunday.
The source said Arsal resident Hasan Ezzeddine, abducted by gunmen in the nearby rival town of Bazzalieh, was released Saturday morning.
Ezzeddine was trying to deliver Qatari aid to Syrian refugees in Arsal when gunmen stopped his vehicle, snatched the supplies and detained the driver.
Another Arsal resident kidnapped in Bazzalieh Friday was released hours after being stopped, a security source at the time said.
The abductions came a week after the killing of captive policeman Ali Bazzal by Nusra Front militants on the outskirts of Arsal.
Family members of Bazzal, who was from Bazzalieh, vowed not to let any humanitirian aid for Syrian refugees into Arsal in the wake of the killing.
Tensions between Arsal and Bazzalieh have significantly increased since Bazzal's killing. At least 25 other soldiers and policemen are still being held hostage by Nusra and ISIS on the outskirts of Arsal.
Residents of Bazzalieh had set up checkpoints at the entrances of the town, checking IDs of passing motorists, and stirring fears among Arsalis that they might be attacked or kidnapped in retaliation of Bazzal's murder.
The security source said that all checkpoints have since been dismantled, but that fear among Arsal residents remains.
