Jreisati says efforts are being exerted to release the Aazaz hostages

Caretaker Minister of Labor Salim Jreisati stressed on Wednesday that Turkey is exerting efforts to release the Lebanese hostages held in Syria's Aazaz, noting that the concerned authorities are addressing the issue.      

Earlier, the ministerial committee tasked with the file of the Aazaz hostages held a meeting at the Interior Ministry, with talks featuring high on the release of two or three detainees in exchange for female prisoners held in Syria.                      

Following the meeting, caretaker Interior Minister Marwan Charbel held a press conference whereby he said that acts of assassination are widespread worldwide, adding that discrepancies among the Lebanese people create a perfect environment for criminal acts.                

In this context, Charbel recalled the explosive device in the Bekaa region and the blast that rocked the Beirut Southern Suburbs, adding that dialogue is futile at the time being.        

Eleven Lebanese pilgrims were kidnapped on their way back from Iran by insurgents hoping to use them for a prisoner swap on the 22nd of May. Only two have so far been released.                         

Their families have vowed to continue their movements until all their loved ones have returned home "safe and sound".                 

On the 9th of July, a large explosion rocked a stronghold of the Hezbollah group south of the Lebanese capital, setting several cars on fire and causing an unknown number of casualties, security officials said.           

The powerful blast came as many among Lebanon's Shiites began observing the holy month of Ramadan, and is the worst explosion to hit the area in years as a direct fallout of the civil war raging in neighboring Syria.