Press Digest for Monday August 25, 2014

3^min

The following are summaries of today's major stories published in the Arabic press. LBCI does not edit press digest articles for content, giving English-language readers insight into the various views expressed in newspapers across the Arab world.

Interior Minister Mashnouq says Lebanese captives dossier 'highly complicated'

Interior Minister Nouhad Mashnouq said on Monday that efforts will continue to be exerted at all levels in a bid to release the Lebanese Armed Forces soldiers and Internal Security Forces members who were kidnapped in Arsal.

In an interview with As-Safir newspaper, Mashnouq said the file of the Lebanese captives is highly complicated, noting that it should be addressed with utmost secrecy.

Mashnouq also thanked the Muslim Scholars Association for the mediation efforts it had exerted, adding that "it did everything it could" in this regard.

Islamic State, Jabhat al-Nusra gunmen storm houses in Arsal - daily

As-Safir daily reported on Monday that gunmen affiliated with the Islamic State and Jabhat al-Nusra have been active in Lebanon's northeastern town of Arsal.

In this regard, sources said groups of gunmen have repeatedly entered the border town and stormed houses of citizens who "cooperate" with the Lebanese Armed Forces.

"The armed men have a list of townsmen they consider as wanted for cooperating with the army," the same sources added.

Detainee Imad Jomaa's testimony reveals Arsal battle was pre-planned -source

"The testimony of the Fajr al-Islam Brigade leader Imad Ahmad Jomaa revealed that the battle in Arsal was pre-planned," a military source told Al-Joumhouria newspaper on Monday.

"Armed groups, more specifically Islamic State militants, aimed at linking Arsal to Akkar in order to reach the sea and establish their emirate in Lebanon," the source said.

"The Lebanese army crushed gunmen in Arsal with an iron fist and inflicted heavy losses on the terrorists," the same source added.

Syria's FM Moallem to hold press conference today- daily

In a surprising step, Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Moallem is set to hold a press conference today (August 25) whereby he will declare that his country is an "essential" part of a regional-international cooperation effort to fight the Islamic State.

"FM Moallem is opening the door to cooperation between Damascus and Washington in order to combat the new common enemy," Al-Akhbar newspaper reported on Monday.