REPORT: Relatives of Aazaz detainees vow escalatory measures following Turkish kidnapping operation

Relatives of the Lebanese detainees in Syria's Aazaz vowed on Monday to proceed with their escalatory movements on the backdrop of the accusations launched by the Information Bureau of the Internal Security Forces regarding the kidnapping of the Turkish Airlines' crew members.                             

After the Information Bureau voiced accusations against Ali Jamil Saleh, saying he was behind the abduction of the Turkish pilot and co-pilot, Saleh told LBCI that he was not related to the aforementioned incident, stressing that he is ready to hand himself over to authorities on the condition that his father and the other detainees be released.                                          

In turn, Saleh's sister told LBCI that her brother suffers from partial paralysis, stressing that the accusations launched against him are near impossible for him to implement given his physical condition.                                           

This as, security sources told LBCI that Mohammad Saleh, son of one of the abductees, is accused of kidnapping the Turkish Airlines' crew members, adding that he was arrested for investigations.                                       

The sources added to LBCI that other persons are being pursued, and stressed that the Lebanese authorities will not remain idle.                             

In turn, Hajja Hayat Awali said that a number of the relatives headed to Downtown Beirut to intercept any Turkish national, adding that "all Turkish nationals in Lebanon are their target from now on."            

Turkish Airlines           

Earlier, the Turkish Airlines company denied that employees in Downtown Beirut were transferred to the company's airport branch, stressing that "a number of employees at the Turkish Airlines offices have been working for almost 3 months at the airport branch due to problems preventing them from performing their duties in Downtown Beirut".                              

Reports indicated that the Turkish cultural center alongside the Turkish Airlines offices temporarily closed their doors while the employees were transferred to the company's airport branch.                                                 

Security measures          

This as the security forces have taken preemptive measures to protect the Turkish Chancellery in Riad Solh, al-Azarieh building in Downtown Beirut as well as the Turkish embassy in Rabieh, the state-run National News Agency reported.                      
                      
The Internal Security Forces have also taken tight measures in the vicinity of hotels where Turkish nationals currently reside.            

Ministry of Interior

In this regard, caretaker Interior and Municipalities Minister Marwan Charbel received at his office a delegation representing the relatives of the Aazaz hostages whereby he informed them of the latest developments concerning the negotiations conducted in order to release the nine Lebanese hostages.            

Following the meeting, Sheikh Abbas Zgheib, commissioned by the Higher Shiite Council to follow up the case of Lebanese hostages in Syria, warned of escalatory measures should authorities fail to release Mohammad Saleh.                         

He noted that Charbel informed the delegation that Mohammad Saleh is not involved in the kidnapping operation and that he is under interrogation over a suspicious phone call he had received.                       

On Friday the 9th of August, gunmen intercepted a Turkish Airlines' bus at the Cocodi Bridge in Beirut and kidnapped two crew members, a pilot and a co-pilot. The bus carrying the crew members was heading from the Beirut International Airport towards a hotel in Ain El-Mrayseh.                                

The incident triggered a chain of reactions mainly from the Turkish side, the most prominent being the call launched by the Turkish foreign ministry on its nationals to leave Lebanon.                                         

While well-informed sources linked the abduction to the case of the Lebanese hostages held in Aazaz, the relatives of the Aazaz hostages denied being involved in the operation.                               

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".                     

They accuse Ankara of sponsoring the kidnapping and the Lebanese government of inaptness in this regard. 


For the full report, please click on the VIDEO above