Qatar sponsors Lebanon-Nusra hostage exchange deal

A Lebanese security source said the operation to swap Lebanese military personnel abducted by Al-Nusra Front in August 2014 started yesterday in the town of Arsal, Lebanon, under Qatari auspices.

Turkey’s Anadolu Agency reported the unnamed source as saying that under the terms of the agreement, Lebanon will swap 17 Lebanese soldiers abducted by Al-Nusra Front with a number of detainees held in Lebanese prisons.

The source pointed out that the deal does not include the six Lebanese soldiers abducted by Daesh.

Al Jazeera reported that Qatar sponsored the deal, adding that the exchange process will take place in an area outside the Lebanese authorities’ control.

It also revealed that Al-Nusra Front requested the Syrian regime to release two Syrian families.

A number of Lebanese soldiers were abducted during clashes that broke out between the Lebanese army and armed groups from Syria, including Al-Nusra Front and Daesh in August last year.

At least 17 Lebanese soldiers were killed in the clashes and 86 others were wounded. Al- Nusra Front detains 17 Lebanese soldiers while Daesh captured six.