Report: Ibrahim Warns Death of Bazzal Would be Retaliated by Execution of Two Terrorists
General Security chief Major General Abbas Ibrahim has reportedly warned al-Nusra Front against executing policeman Ali al-Bazzal, threatening to execute two terrorists in return.
An Nahar newspaper reported that Ibrahim informed the group that terrorist Joumana Hmeid and Omar al-Atrash will be executed if any harm happens to al-Bazzal.
Al-Atrash, 24, was charged in February with transporting suicide bombers to Lebanon, detonating bombs and explosive-rigged vehicles, attacking the army in Majdelyoun and al-Awwali bridge areas in the southern city of Sidon in December and launching rockets on Israel.
Hmeid was charged over her involvement with al-Qaida-linked groups. She was detained also in February on the Arsal-Labweh road when she was transporting car rigged with explosives.
Al-Nusra Front and the Islamic State, who have been holding several soldiers and policemen captive, were demanding the release of five terrorists, in particular Abou Salim Taha, Hmeid, Imad Jomaa, Naim Abbas and al-Atrash.
The five are in custody for involvement in terrorist activities in Lebanon.
The two jihadist groups overran the northeastern border town of Arsal in August following clashes between the army and Islamist gunmen from Syria.
Few hostages have since been released, three were executed, while the rest are still being held by militiamen.
Al-Nusra Front has twice threatened to execute al-Bazzal but suspended its vow, prompting the distressed families of the hostage servicemen to take to the streets their protests and block several roads.
An Nahar newspaper also reported that the release of Hizbullah member Imad Ayyad last week was in exchange for two Syrians, one of them was in the custody of the Lebanese authorities.
Sources said that the Syrian detainee could have been used in negotiations with the two groups to secure the safe release of the kidnapped servicemen.
Hizbullah said last Tuesday that one of its members, Ayyad, was freed in exchange for two gunmen who were in the party's custody.
Ayyad had been in the custody of Syrian groups in the mountains of the Qalamun region near Lebanon's border.
The party has been fighting alongside troops loyal to Syrian President Bashar Assad against rebels seeking to topple him.
The matter drew the ire of the families of captive servicemen, who expressed regret at Hizbullah's ability to engage in a prisoner swap with Syrian gunmen and the failure of the Lebanese government to do so.
H.K.
G.K.
11 years
Why will you execute only 2 ? For every Lebanese soldier executed , 10 terrorists should be publicly executed including deportation of 5000 Poeple and closing the border . 2 is not enough ,,,, our soldiers and every Lebanese is worth much more than 2 dirty terrorists
11 years
Now we're talking!
11 years
I fully support mr Ibrahim stand. As a Lebanese citizen I see that executing 10 instead of two of these criminals is quite justified.
11 years
And now we have leverage too, with Baghdaddy's spawn in custody.
11 years
Thank you Mr. Ibrahim, enough being nice with the terrorists, tit for tat is what they understand. (naharnet, is this a better and more mild replacement of the post you deleted?).
11 years
Naharnet deleted my post as well. It was not rude or inflammatory at all. I was saying that I thought it was a good idea for the Hizbollah and Hariri side to meet and cool down tensions - how much more benign can you get???
I am becoming rather suspicious of whoever is managing theses chat pages ...
An Nahar newspaper also reported that the release of Hizbullah member Imad Ayyad last week was in exchange for two Syrians, one of them was in the custody of the Lebanese authorities.
I bet it is the General Security or Army intelligence. Total coordination with HA.....
I doubt however that Ibrahim has the authority to make the claim of threatening to execute 2 Nusra detainees.