On year has passed since the abduction of the Lebanese military troops in Arsal, but until now their fate remains unknown despite the state’s reassurance on "never abandoning their case."
In this context, Talal Taleb, father of hostage Mohammad Taleb, told LBCI’s Nharkom Said on Sunday that "it appears that the case is lost... officials are not listening to our demands."
Taleb called on Director General of General Security, Maj. Gen. Abbas Ibrahim to finalize this case and ensure the safe return of the hostages.
For his part, Nader Bou Kalfouni, brother of hostage Nahi Bou Kalfouni, called on Prime Minister Tammam Salam to unveil the party hindering the negotiations, stressing that the families will remain united to support their loved ones and "will never give up."
In turn, Sabrine Karnabi, wife of hostage Ziad Omar, pointed out that this case has become a tragic issue, noting that the Lebanese state lacks authority.
“The officials have been subjecting with the lives of the hostages to great risks, all the while 'playing' with their families," she said, hoping that the situation would soon see resolution.
The military men were taken hostage in August 2014 when militants from Syria took over the Lebanese border town of Arsal for five days before withdrawing toward the Syrian frontier, taking with them Lebanese soldiers and policemen as hostages.
The clashes were the most dangerous spillover of violence from the civil war in neighboring Syria.
The violence flared up when Syrian gunmen deployed across the region after the Lebanese Armed Forces arrested Imad Jomaa at a checkpoint.
The detention of Imad Jomaa, the leader of the Fajr al-Islam Brigade, had caused security tension in the border town of Arsal, claiming the lives of 20 soldiers and leaving 86 others injured.
While the release of five men provided a degree of relief, concerns remain about the troops and policemen still in captivity, as several were executed by the terrorist groups to exert pressure on the Lebanese authorities to meet their demands.
The abductors are demanding the release of Islamist detainees in Lebanese prisons in exchange for the release of the hostages.
Negotiations have been ongoing, with the help of a mediator in order to reach common terms to release the hostages, but no results have been reached so far.