Qahwaji: Case of Kidnapped Soldiers a Top Priority

Army Commander General Jean Qahwaji stated that hopes are high on the release of the abducted servicemen and soldiers, an Nahar daily said on Sunday.

“The issue of the kidnapped soldiers is a top priority. I am following up closely on the latest developments related to their release,” Qahwaji told the daily.

He stated that his “hopes are high that the latest developments could succeed in releasing all the military personnel and they return safe to their homeland and families.”

On Friday, media reports said that the servicemen will be released soon in a prisoner swap with inmates in Lebanese jails.

General Security chief Abbas Ibrahim said on Saturday that the ongoing negotiations to release the servicemen who were kidnapped by extremists in 2014 are serious.

He added however that these efforts “have not yet reached their happy ending.”

The servicemen were abducted in August 2014 in the wake of clashes between the army and Islamic State and al-Nusra Front militants in the northeastern border town of Arsal.