The father of a youth who was kidnapped two days ago in northeast Lebanon received a call from the kidnappers Monday asking for a $200,000 ransom, a security source said.
The source told The Daily Star that Zaher Hussein Rayed was first kidnapped two weeks ago by Islamist gunmen in Arsal’s outskirts, but was released one day after without any ransom being paid.
His father announced Sunday that he had lost contact with him Saturday night.
On Monday, he received a call by the alleged kidnappers demanding $200,000 for his son's release, the source said.
Kidnapping has become more frequent in and around Arsal’s outskirts since last year, when Islamist militants from the Nusra Front and ISIS [Daesh] gained strong footholds in the Qalamoun area.
The militants engaged in deadly clashes with the Lebanese Army last August in Arsal, and still hold hostage 25 servicemen on the outskirts.
By Nidal Solh
