The militants holding Lebanese servicemen hostage on the outskirts of Arsal are not likely to resume killing them because negotiations have made serious progress, General Security chief Abbas Ibrahim said Saturday.
“We have come a long way in the negotiations over the captive servicemen, and no dramatic developments are anticipated,” Ibrahim, who is in charge of the task force negotiating their release, told TV station NBN.
“We believe that the murders are now behind us.”
He said the Lebanese team responsible for the negotiations had not stopped working on the matter, and succeeded in overcoming a great deal of obstacles with the kidnappers.
“Any case could see both breakthroughs and setbacks,” Ibrahim said. “But according to my experience, the setbacks have become kind of unlikely.”
At least 25 Lebanese soldiers and policemen are still held captive by ISIS, also known by the Arabic acronym Daesh, and the Nusra Front on the northeastern Lebanese borders.
So far, the Nusra Front has shot dead two hostages, and ISIS has beheaded two others. Nusra has also released eight.
The hostages were kidnapped during a five-day battle with the army in August.
