Saudis among Kidnapped Hunters Freed in Iraq
Two Saudis were among a mainly Qatari hunting party freed after a 16-month hostage ordeal in Iraq, Saudi media reported on Saturday.
The 26 hunters, initially believed to all be Qataris, were flown to Doha on Friday after being handed over to Iraqi authorities.
Jeddah-based newspaper Okaz named the two Saudis as Salem bin Abdulhadi al-Merri and Mohammed Abdullah al-Merri and said they were expected to be flown home to the kingdom on Saturday.
The official Saudi Press Agency agency also began referring to the hunting party as "Qatari and Saudi" on Saturday but did not give further details.
A foreign ministry spokesman was not immediately reachable for comment.
The hunting party, who are believed to have included one or more prominent members of the Qatari royal family, were kidnapped in southern Iraq in December 2015.
There was never any formal claim of responsibility but the abduction was widely linked to Shiite militias with ties to Tehran.
A source in Baghdad said the release of the hostages was part of a wider deal that also saw the evacuation of thousands of Shiite civilians from two government-held towns in northern Syria that had been besieged by rebels for more than two years.
Qatar has close ties with the rebels and jointly sponsored the evacuation deal with Iran.
The agreement also saw hundreds of civilians and fighters leave rebel-held areas near Damascus under siege by pro-government forces.
almost 7 years
and how did you conclude that ya heretic?
almost 7 years
Coming to defend your oily masters, on the beat.
But as you can see in the article, they think they can go to any country in the world and be treated like overlords. Didn't work out this time.
almost 7 years
lulz @ mowaten the least racist sectarian person on the world. In fact he has a visceral hate for anyone who lumps all people from one group together. Shiite drug dealers, outlaws and criminals doe not represent all Shiites.
almost 7 years
I see you came back after claiming pro-Hezbollah Naharnet admins banned you, TexasAndrogyne. I guess getting your ass whooped is too addicting.
almost 7 years
lulz @ mowaten so confused by his multiple accounts he thinks everyone's got them. But he's not sectarian, he just hates Gulfies, Christians, Jews, Buddhists, Hindus, Zoroastrians...
almost 7 years
As opposed to the Lebanese who think they are the center of the Universe?
almost 7 years
At least they produce other things than just oil.
Gulfies think the world is their playground.