During a joint press conference with Maj. Gen. Abbas Ibrahim, Minister Mashnouq pointed out that “Arsal is an occupied territory and our main policy is to avoid being dragged into the Syrian conflict.”
On another note, Mashnouq indicated that the state will spare no effort to ensure the release of the soldiers held hostage by the Islamic State.
For his part, Maj. Gen. Ibrahim noted that the general security and the military forces are always ready for confronting the dangers that are threatening Lebanon’s peace and stability.
Al Qaeda's Syrian wing freed on Tuesday (December 1) 16 Lebanese soldiers and policemen in exchange for the release of jailed Islamists including the ex-wife of Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi.
The Nusra Front seized the Lebanese 16 months ago during an attack on the Lebanese border town of Arsal mounted together with the Islamic State jihadist group which is still believed to be holding nine soldiers captured in the incursion.