From the post of the Lebanese Armed Forces in Wadi al-Hosn at the border of Arsal, the terrorists took a group of Lebanese soldiers as prisoners toward the mountainous regions of Arsal on August 02, 2014.
The Islamic State kept ten of the soldiers, who were identified as Ibrahim Mgheit, Ali al-Masri, Mustafa Wehbe, Seif Zebian, Mohammad Youssef, Khaled Hassan, Hussein Ammar, Ali al-Hajj Hassan, Abbas Medlej, Abdel Rahim Diab and Ali al-Sayyed.
In September 2014, the Islamic State terrorists executed Abbas Medlej, under the pretext of attempting to escape and opening fire at the IS members.
In the same month, the organization released a video depicting two of the soldiers who were Abdel Rahim Diab and Ali al-Sayyed declaring that they joined the Islamic State. It was later revealed that Diab’s uncle, known as Abi Talal, is one of IS’ leaders in Arsal.
In April 2016, Abdel Rahim Diab was declared killed in fighting with the Islamic State in Syria; while Ali al-Sayyed was later killed by the organization.
The negotiations had started to release the eight remaining soldiers, with Qatari and Turkish interventions, and led by the Lebanese side, mainly by Director General of General Security Maj. Gen. Abbas Ibrahim. But no results were reached.
The negotiations that were conducted indirectly and under constant threats of executing the soldiers, were faced with many obstacles, including the constant change of leaders of the Islamic State and the fighting between IS and al-Nusra Front.
These negotiations were primarily aiming at releasing the soldiers, but their goal shifted and become focused on knowing whether the captives were dead or alive.
For more details, watch the full report in the video above