REPORT: Muslim cleric confirms contacts were lost with kidnappers of...

4^min

Sheikh Hussam al-Ghali, a member of the Association of Muslim Scholars, has confirmed that contacts were lost with the kidnappers of Lebanese Armed Forces soldiers and Internal Security Forces members.

On another note, sources reported on Thursday that a convoy carrying 1,800 Syrian refugees headed from Arsal to Syria via the al-Masnaa crossing point, noting that the operation was mediated by a nun and supported by the Lebanese Army Intelligence. Later on, the Lebanese authorities ordered the comeback of the Syrian refugee convoy.

This comes after 20 Red Cross ambulances entered the border town of Arsal in coordination with the Lebanese army to transport the injured to nearby hospitals.

Lebanese Red Cross Operations Director George Kettaneh told LBCI that 44 injured persons were transported to nearby hospitals outside Arsal.

Meanwhile, the Interior Ministry said Civil Defense units entered Arsal in an effort to help civilians evacuate.

Earlier, the Lebanese army carried out a military operation in the town and rescued seven Internal Security Forces members who were hiding inside a house belonging to a member of the Hjairy family.

The rescued ISF members were identified as: Hussein al-Jamal, Abdel Rasoul al-Krambi, Holo Ghannam, Mohammad Blouk, Ahmad al-Breidy, Wissam Rayed and Chouaid Mouhiddine.

In this context, military sources told LBCI that there are 8 army forces who are still detained by al-Nusra Front militants, while 6 others remain captive by the Islamic State.

This comes as a delegation from the Association of Muslim Scholars headed to Arsal to continue the negotiations with the armed men who are still present in the town.

In turn, member of the association Sheikh Hussam al-Ghali said that injured persons were evacuated, noting that the case of the kidnapped forces will be resolved with the groups present in Arsal.

The Association had said that the border town of Arsal is almost entirely empty of militants, adding that it will follow up on those captured by militants with the concerned authorities.

It also stressed that there is a human catastrophe in the town, noting that an entire Syrian refugee camp was burned down.

In the past two days, several ISF and LAF members were released by the militants fighting against the army after the Muslim Scholars Committee brokered a ceasefire in what has been the most dangerous spillover from Syria's civil war.

The army said 17 soldiers have been killed, with at least 30 military personal missing and 86 injured in the fighting.

Reports from inside the town suggest dozens of civilians and militants have also been injured and killed.

The fighting has prompted the Lebanese Army Commander General Jean Kahwagi to call for more international aid.

Kahwagi, who also attended a security meeting at cabinet on Wednesday stated that the situation is reassuring and that the military was in control of the town.

He also noted that LAF and ISF captives were taken outside the town by militants on the onset of the clashes, without specifying the location.

On Tuesday, Future movement leader former Prime Minister Saad Hariri announced that Saudi Arabia had pledged $1 billion to the army.

The new aid came after Saudi Arabia and France said they would speed up the implementation of a $3 billion arms deal for Lebanon announced last December.

To watch the report, please click on the VIDEO above