Relatives Identify Lebanese Pilgrims Kidnappers on TV
The wives and daughters of Lebanese Shiite pilgrims kidnapped in northern Syria identified two of the kidnappers on Tuesday after seeing them in a report about the Free Syrian Army on television.
LBCI reported that several women, part of a group of pilgrims kidnapped in Syria and released without their male relatives, contacted it after seeing their kidnappers’ faces on a Monday broadcast.
The report featured men who identified themselves as members of the FSA.
LBC said the women had claimed that "the men on the broadcast were the ones who kidnapped their men."
The women appeared on the channel Tuesday evening to confirm what they had said.
One of them identified the gunmen from the previous night's report, saying "this man went with us to the bus," and pointing out another man who was "carrying rocket launchers on his shoulder and blocked the road" for the bus.
"They told us when we boarded the bus: 'We are the Free (Syrian) Army. We do not want to hurt anyone. Some of our men are being held by the Syrian army and we want to exchange them for your men.'"
The kidnappers released the women and elderly men and kept 11 men in their custody.
The whereabouts and fate of those kidnapped is still unclear.
"When we said that the Free Syrian Army carried out the kidnapping it was denied. They cannot deny anymore. This video broadcast is the proof," the woman said.
"We hold the Free Syrian Army in Turkey and Syria responsible for the security of young people," she added.
"May God Almighty expose them (...) They have to release them immediately." The FSA has denied any involvement in the kidnapping that took place shortly after the pilgrims' bus cross the Turkish border into Syrian territory in the northern province of Aleppo.
"How could the kidnappers appear to the public and reveal themselves? Was it an intentional error," the woman asked.
Referring to the presence of the FSA members on Turkish soil, she demanded: "What is the responsibility of the Turkish state in this matter?"
A previously unknown armed group calling itself the "Syrian Revolutionaries -- Aleppo Countryside" said last week it was holding a group of Lebanese Shiite pilgrims who went missing.
almost 12 years
"worthless 11" got there first film out!Long Live The Syrian Civil war.
almost 12 years
The Free Syrian Army does not have them this is a group probably created by the regime to create more trouble in Lebanon, the Free Syrian Army has already denied responsibility and said they will do everything possible including give up their lives to free those kidnapped...we haven't heard this from ASSad even... Please learn English by the way people are not "witheld" they are "held".
almost 12 years
Lol, why does the FSA then claim that "mafias" were behind it, and that they are in a position to get them released?
almost 12 years
i guess that is your dream...
almost 12 years
i can't believe the comments i have read concerning these lebanese citizens. it shows what a bunch of illiterate and stupid readers and whatever movements they follow. allah yahmick ya Nesrallah.
GOD BLESS and keep Nessrallah and Micheal Aoun not to forget Sleiman Franjieh in good health.
Sam Achmar, NSW, Sydney Australia
almost 12 years
slash .do you have anything positive to contribute to any discussion? why are you ouwet all so ignorant ? people like you make me sick , i dont even have the energy to respond to your stupidity .you guys just love getting SMASHED and stepped on,and its always your own stupid fault
almost 12 years
These kidnappers are true Saints! As much as the Badreddine's of this world are...and their bosses of course ! At least the syrian free army is cutting down on the vermin which is helping the criminals in power in Syria, keep their bloody grip on power.
almost 12 years
Don't release those disguised Hizbollah operatives, until the four Saints have been handed over to the STL, along with all the innocent Lebanese rotting in Syrian jails !
almost 12 years
First, there is no true FSA. The FSA is just a hodgepodge group of fighters that are only united in trying to overthrow the regime. The reason why they haven't been able to unite at any other level is the main reason why they are unable to mount a unified effort. There is no unity, no true command and it appears anyone can call themselves a member if they wanted to.
Second--didn't these women already get questioned by Syrian and Lebanese authorities about the kidnappers and wouldn't they have given the information to them as well as Hizb members?
Third--why didn't this get broadcast on Al-Manar or NBN instead of LBC? Is the programming so dead on those two channels that they couldn't accommodate the requests?
This whole thing is fishy to me--too many questions on why they are doing what they are doing.
almost 12 years
it could simply deny the claims. there is no proof and its unlikely a committee or whatever will be formed to look into it given the situation in syria. the women could claim mickey mouse took them (and it could actually be true).
but in the end, i dont think this could give hizbullah or anyone, any real leverage.
Hahahaha
...ah. Still. When will this nonsense stop.
How convenient that the kidnappers appear on TV.
I say: Nasruhallah, be aware. The Syrian regime is trying to actively drag you into this conflict in their desperacy.