IS Says Beheaded Another Lebanese Soldier after He 'Tried to Escape'
Several pro-jihadist Twitter accounts on Saturday published gruesome pictures apparently showing Islamic State militants beheading another Lebanese army soldier, around ten days after the same group executed captive army sergeant Ali al-Sayyed.
“We executed another army soldier, Abbas Medlej, after he tried to escape,” Turkey's Anatolia news agency quoted an unnamed IS leader as saying.
The so-called Qalamun branch of the Islamic State also published a statement confirming the execution of Medlej.
“Today, Lebanese soldier Abbas Medlej tried to escape from his prison in a malicious manner,” the group said in a statement circulated on social media websites.
“After he tried to open fire at ... the Islamic State's soldiers, we managed with God's help to control the situation and beheading was the fate of this Rafidi (derogatory term for Shiites),” the group added.
Meanwhile, pictures posted on social media showed a masked gunman cutting off Medlej's head and a number of jihadists surrounding the decapitated body.
In one of the pictures, a hooded man wearing black appears holding the severed head of a bearded young man over his body.
The corpse is lying in a pool of blood and, in the background, a man is holding up the black IS flag.
A military source said the Lebanese army is investigating the photographs.
"The army has received the images, but we cannot confirm or deny whether they are authentic," the source told Agence France-Presse, speaking on condition of anonymity.
The pictures emerged four days after DNA testing confirmed that the body of a man whom jihadists had said they beheaded was that of Lebanese sergeant Ali al-Sayyed. The images of al-Sayyed's execution were posted on the Internet on August 28.
He disappeared from Arsal around the time Syria-based militants from the IS and al-Nusra Front overran Arsal in early August during deadly clashes with the Lebanese army.
The fighting ended a few days later but the militants kidnapped around 36 troops and policemen and took them to an area between Arsal's outskirts and Syria's Qalamun.
The militants are reportedly seeking to negotiate the release of Islamist inmates from Lebanon's prisons in return for the abducted troops.
Medlej's execution comes despite the fact that Qatari mediators had held a meeting with IS militants earlier in the day and received a list containing their demands.
Lebanese officials have rejected holding talks on a possible prisoner swap, but have said Qatar is mediating negotiations on the issue.
As news broke that Medlej was executed, angry protesters took to the streets and blocked roads in Beirut's southern suburbs, Bekaa's Ablah, al-Labweh, al-Ain, and the northern town of Halba.
Earlier on Saturday, the body of a Lebanese civilian kidnapped and killed by the IS was handed over to his family in Arsal.
Kayed Ghadada was abducted last month after the Arsal battle, which killed 20 soldiers, dozens of jihadists and 16 civilians.
The fighting in Arsal was the most serious border incident since the Syrian conflict erupted in March 2011.
Y.R.
over 9 years
I really cant understand how there are people voting thumbs down for your comment karim
over 9 years
Its pretty simple - they are FSA-Nusra-ISIS sympathizers and begin to salivate when their beloved terrorists inflicting harm on our civilians and soldiers.
over 9 years
Very sad, RIP. The
culure of jihad, blood and death of da3esh and ha doesn't fit with the culture of Lebanon so they want it dead.
over 9 years
what goes around will come around, make no mistake isis black dogs cursed ones, one by one they will punish severily and paraded thru Beirut streets and dirt roads where feral and domestic dogs will have their fill. Lebanon is filled with their Syrian relatives, have these criminals satanic worshipers consider that? we have very sharp knives in Lebanon too. end of isis is started. muslimbrother is isis and isis is muslimbrother, the rebels in syria are just factions of muslimbrother or isis fighting each other for power. American stupid to believe rebel are not isis , blind leading blind when it come to isis.
over 9 years
Since the Lebanese government has 400 of them, every time a Lebanese soldier is killed, 5 or more of the bandits should be hanged.
over 9 years
"this is HA plan all along"
this is more strategically dangerous for Hezbollah than Israel directly is. Hezbollah wouldnt setup a situation in which its suicide is a possibility.
over 9 years
Relax defacto.
over 9 years
The SAA is already fighting against ISIS.
over 9 years
I really think it's time that Hezbollah, SAA, and the LAF finally conduct the long awaited operation in the hills of arsal/qalamoun.
over 9 years
رصاص الابتهاج ببري أدخل انطوني العناية الفائقة!
http://www.annahar.com/article/168454-رصاص-الابتهاج-ببري-أدخل-انطوني-العناية-الفائقة
over 9 years
RIP soldier , you did not deserve to die like this from these cold blooded butchers .
over 9 years
"السفير": ظهور حواجز وملثمين في بلدة اللبوة ومعلومات عن عمليات خطف.
"جرس سكوب": دهم بيوت السوريين في منطقة الليلكي وجوارها وإجبارهم على المغادرة فورا.
over 9 years
That is a Lebanese soldier whom you killed; You filthy Islamic criminals. May you rot in hell!
over 9 years
they are not just savages, now they're dead savages. no more mr. nice guy.
@terrorist: remember this, you asked for it.
over 9 years
@anonyme here's your suggestion: kill them all. that's the only way to stop them from beheading people.
over 9 years
RIP, I add my voice to all those above. Every Lebanese soldier life is worth the lives of thousand IS ass holes. Why is our Middle East littered with crazy guys with manure for brains (that includes all Jihadists)
over 9 years
The Lebanese state has failed its army and its people. It is high time that unconditional WAR is declared on these savage terrorists until they are all eradicated and our soldiers and security forces are safely returned. No negotiation, no compromise. Death to these filthy jihadist terrorists and their sponsors.
over 9 years
Rip if it is true. God bless the army. If in fact the negotiation by Qatar with the terrorists reveals freeing those jailed in roumyeh then I would set fire in the cell and let them burn then clean up for space to welcome the terrorists.
over 9 years
we should behead a dozen terrorists in roumieh for each soldier they behead
over 9 years
Muslim religion is the root of all evil, they spread by the power of sword since history. Currently, Shiite and Sunni are feeding each other the same holy poison. Abolish religion in the land of all religions, or the land of all evil.
over 9 years
Follow Jesus, the forgiving, God never asked humans to kill for him.
over 9 years
The ISF cyber unit should locate you and arrest for making public threats with the intent of causing damage and harm to an institution.
over 9 years
The Lebanese government is weak , shaky and is the most uncoordinated self centered government I have seen . Close the border , issue a statement of return of refugees , and complete all execution sentences on phanatics in prisons . While on the other hand hit with a fist of steel all refugee camps , all illegal workers and make life hell for them
over 9 years
if they think that we are going to be afraid from a bunch of dirty , slipper wearing scum . Think again , and if you have any doubt , come over
over 9 years
You are so right Kataeb
over 9 years
Obama is a spineless President- I hope he follows through with his coalition. We have seen threats without action in the past. Had he armed the moderate oppostion in the first place none of this crap would happen.
over 9 years
anonyme they are placing unacceptable conditions so giving them what they want is not an option. and if ever we did, it would only be a signal that capturing and executing lebanese soldiers is a good way to get what you want. if they come out happy from this you and i both know they will immediately start planning for more abductions to score more points. the only way is to make them bitterly regret this, place a price so high that even these psychos will never want to try it again.
my suggestion is going after them, and killing hundreds of their fighters for each of our soldier they kill. unleash hell of them and stop only if they release the soldiers. the only deal that can be made is we show mercy if and only if they release the soldiers. if not, we kill them all. i'd also be inclined to use the same methods as them, including cutting their hands off and/or beheading them. we're facing animals here, and no amount of good will or nice words will do.
over 9 years
shift the terror to their side and wipe the smirks of their apish faces.
over 9 years
You sound as bad as terrorists. Why implicate their families? Some of their families may not even know what is going on. Aspar
over 9 years
ISIS members were only born because their mothers screwed pigs.
RIP Medlej, and may the terrorists who beheaded you burn in hell forever.