Nusra Front Releases 16 Lebanese Servicemen after 15 Months of Captivity/Lebanese Officials, politicians, families & Saudi Envoy welcome & hail the release

Nusra Front Releases 16  Lebanese Servicemen after 15 Months of Captivity
Naharnet/December 01/15/The al-Qaida-affiliated al-Nusra Front released on Tuesday 16 servicemen it had abducted from the northeastern border town of Arsal in 2014. The servicemen were released through a Qatari-mediated deal that also included a prisoner swap to release a number of inmates from Lebanese jails.
The swap took place on the outskirts of Arsal. The servicemen were transported to Lebanon by the Red Cross amid scenes of jubilation among their loved ones, who were monitoring the developments in Beirut. The servicemen told MTV that they were treated well by their captors, thanking General Security chief Abbas Ibrahim, Health Minister Wael Abou Faour, Qatar, and other officials for their efforts to ensure their release. They also hoped that attention would be focused on the displaced families on the Lebanese-Syrian border to help provide them with aid.
Hours later, the freed men arrived in Beirut, dressed in their police and military uniforms, clean-shaven, and with their hair freshly cut. An official welcoming ceremony was held for them at the Grand Serail. They later celebrated their freedom along with their families at the nearby Riad al-Solh Square before they headed to their hometowns. Thirteen inmates, including five women, were freed in exchange for the servicemen, said al-Jazeera television. They include the divorcee of Islamic State leader Abou Bakr al-Baghdadi, Saja al-Dulaimi. She told reporters at the scene that she had divorced al-Baghdadi six or seven years ago and that she intends to head to Turkey. The prisoners were originally intended to be handed to al-Nusra, but a security source told AFP that at least 10 of them were returned to Beirut instead, at their request. A lawyer who had overseen the mediation efforts said that the deal calls for allowing the displaced present on the outskirts of Arsal to receive monthly batches of aid. A safe zone will also be set up in Wadi Hmeid to ensure the security of civilians, he revealed. The deal also includes catering to the displaced people’s legal affairs in Lebanon, he said. “The Lebanese government and Qatari sponsor have pledged to coordinate these efforts with us,” he added. Prime Minister Tammam Salam is set to meet with the servicemen at the Grand Serail, reported Voice of Lebanon radio (100.5). Earlier, the Red Cross had received the corpse of soldier Mohammed Hamieh, who was executed by al-Nusra Front in September 2014. His body had been taken to the military hospital in Beirut to undergo DNA tests to verify his identity. Nine hostages are being held by the IS and their families do not know much about their fate, said LBCI television on Tuesday. Ibrahim later stated: “Our joy today will not be complete until the release of the hostages held by the IS.”“We are ready to hold negotiations with the IS to release the captives if someone on their end voices readiness to do so,” he added. Nineteen troops were killed in August 2014 in clashes that erupted between the army and the al-Nusra Front and IS. The servicemen were abducted in the aftermath of the fighting.
The release of the 16 servicemen ended months of anxiety over their fate after the two groups had previously executed four of the hostages

Officials, Families Hail Release of Servicemen, Hope IS Hostages Will Be Freed
Naharnet/December 01/15/Officials welcomed on Tuesday the release of the servicemen that were kidnapped by the al-Qaida-affiliated al-Nusra Front, while hoping that efforts will be made to ensure the release of the hostages held by the Islamic State extremist group. Health Minister Wael Abou Faour paid a visit to the sit-in held by the servicemen’s families in downtown Beirut, pledging that the “state will not waver in exerting efforts to release the remaining hostages.” Head of the Mustaqbal Movement MP Saad Hariri declared via Twitter: “We thank all those who contributed to the release, especially Qatar.”“We congratulate the servicemen on their return to freedom and to their homeland. This is a joyous occasion for all the Lebanese and a victory for the perseverance of the army and security forces against all pressure,” he added. These sentiments were echoed by Interior Minister Nouhad al-Mashnouq, who said: “The seriousness of the General Security did not go in vain and its efforts resulted in the release of the abducted soldiers.” For its part, the General Security said in a statement: “We will spare no effort to bring back the servicemen kidnapped by the IS.” Marada Movement chief MP Suleiman Franjieh meanwhile congratulated the Lebanese people on the release of the servicemen and hoped the rest will be freed as well. Justice Minister Ashraf Rifi told al-Jazeera television: “Today we close the chapter of the servicemen held by al-Nusra Front and hope to focus attention on ones held by the IS.” The AMAL movement later said: “The joy on this day remains lacking given that some hostages are still being held by the IS.” Meanwhile, Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea hoped there will efforts for the released of the IS-held hostages, thanking Qatar and its leadership, Prime Minister Tammam Salam, General Security chief Abbas Ibrahim “and everyone who contributed to the release of our servicemen.”In downtown Beirut, where relatives of the kidnapped servicemen have manned a protest camp since they were seized, there were tears of joy and relief. Relatives gathered around televisions to watch as their sons, husbands and brothers prepared for their release. Several screamed and ululated and even broke into the Middle Eastern dance known as dabke to express their joy. Others distributed sweets or threw petals and rice into the air. “I’ve been awake day and night for the last few days, because there were positive signs,” said Marie Khoury, whose brother George was among the released men. “There will be seven days of drumming and celebrations in Kobayat,” she said, of their ancestral village.
‘Don’t forget about us’ –
But she added: “Our joy is incomplete without the release of those held by the Islamic State group and we hope that the Lebanese state will intensify its efforts for their release.”Amid the celebrations, the mother of one of the IS hostages came to congratulate the families of those being freed, but quickly dissolved into tears. “Don’t forget about us,” she pleaded with them, as they assured her they would continue to pressure the Lebanese government to secure the release of the remaining hostages.Sixteen servicemen held by the al-Nusra Front were released earlier on Tuesday through a Qatari-mediated deal that included the prisoner swap with the extremist group. They were released on the outskirts of the northeastern border town of Arsal after 15 months in captivity. They were abducted in the wake of clashes between the army and the IS and al-Nusra Front in Arsal in August 2014. Four of the hostages were executed, while nine are still being held by the IS.

Salam Welcomes Freed Servicemen at Grand Serail, Thanks Qatar as Ibrahim Lauds Hariri, Nasrallah
Naharnet/December 01/15/Prime Minister Tammam Salam and General Security chief Maj. Gen. Abbas Ibrahim on Tuesday saluted all the local and external parties that contributed to the release of 16 servicemen who were held by al-Nusra Front, during an emotional welcoming ceremony that was held at the Grand Serail. “Our heroes endured and persevered and we also endured with them, which allowed us to achieve this joy. I cannot but remember the martyrs on this occasion, the last of whom was Mohammed Hamiyeh,” Salam said, referring to four servicemen who were executed by al-Nusra and the Islamic State group. “Trust your State and government,” he added, addressing the Lebanese. “We will carry on with our efforts to make more achievements,” Salam vowed. Uncertainty is still shrouding the fate of nine other servicemen who were also kidnapped in August 2014 from the northeastern border town of Arsal at the hands of the IS. “Domestic efforts were exerted through the government, the crisis cell and all the security agencies,” Salam announced. “The judicial authorities have also helped us to cross to freedom and to Lebanon’s dignity,” he added. “In the name of you all, I extend gratitude to all the countries and leaders who contributed to this happy ending, especially the State of Qatar and its emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad,” Salam said. At the domestic level, Salam said he especially thanks Maj. Gen. Ibrahim and the General Security institution. For his part, Ibrahim said he is “awaiting the day of joy when we recover the IS-held servicemen.”“I thank the members of the crisis cell. I thank ex-PM Saad Hariri who supported us in the negotiations and I thank (Hizbullah chief) Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah but I will not go into details now,” he added. “Because Lebanon is the country of freedom you have returned free. You have returned to the State and to your country and families,” Ibrahim went on to say. “We thank everyone who contributed to our efforts … The negotiations were difficult but we did not renounce our sovereignty,” he stated. The 16 hostages — 13 policemen and three soldiers — were transferred from territory held by the Qaida-linked al-Nusra on the mountainous border with Syria by Lebanon’s Red Cross. Hours later, the freed men arrived in Beirut, dressed in their police and military uniforms, clean-shaven, and with their hair freshly cut.

Asiri Lauds Release of Servicemen, Hopes Lebanese Unite over Presidential Candidate
Naharnet/December 01/15/Saudi Arabian Ambassador to Lebanon Ali Awadh Asiri hailed on Tuesday the release of 16 servicemen who were held hostage by the al-Qaida-affiliated al-Nusra Front, while hoping that this occasion will kick off efforts to resolve pending issues, most notably the presidential deadlock. He said in a statement: “Saudi Arabia hopes that Lebanese powers will be able to elect a president as soon as possible to put an end to the paralysis at state institutions, which has started to have negative effects on the country.”He added that he “supports any candidate who enjoys the backing on the Lebanese people, especially the Christians.”The kingdom is “closely following” regional developments, including those in Lebanon, “out of its fraternal keenness on the country and its people,” he continued. Asiri stressed however that Riyadh does not meddle in Lebanese affairs, saying that the “Lebanese people alone should take the decisions that suit them.” “The kingdom’s role is therefore limited to encouraging all political powers to hold dialogue and come together to achieve Lebanon’s higher national interest,” he remarked. Commenting on the release of the 16 servicemen, the ambassador congratulated the people, army, and security forces on their achievement, while praising the efforts of General Security chief Abbas Ibrahim. He hoped that today’s accomplishment will be completed with the release of the remaining hostages, who are being held by the Islamic State extremist group. Sixteen servicemen held by the al-Nusra Front were released earlier on Tuesday through a Qatari-mediated deal that included a prisoner swap with the extremist group. They were released on the outskirts of the northeastern border town of Arsal after 15 months in captivity. They were abducted in the wake of clashes between the army and the IS and al-Nusra Front in Arsal in August 2014. Four of the hostages were executed, while nine are still being held by the IS.