General Security Chief Abbas Ibrahim declared Friday during a meeting with the families of kidnapped soldiers in central Bekaa that officials are seeking a serious mediator to take over the case of the soldiers abducted by the Islamic State in Arsal.
The Islamic State (Daesh) and Jabhat Fatah al-Sham, formerly the Nusra Front, militants kidnapped more than 30 soldiers and policemen in Arsal in Aug. 2014 during clashes between the militants and the Lebanese army. At least two were executed in captivity and the 16 held by Jabhat Fatah al-Sham were released on Dec. 1 last year in a prisoner swap with the Lebanese state. The nine held by Daesh are still in captivity.