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Lebanese troops freed by Syrian jihadists in prisoner swap | Lebanese troops freed by Syrian jihadists in prisoner swap |
(35 minutes later) | |
Al-Qaeda's Syrian affiliate has freed 16 Lebanese security personnel held captive for almost 16 months as part of a swap deal, Lebanese media report. | Al-Qaeda's Syrian affiliate has freed 16 Lebanese security personnel held captive for almost 16 months as part of a swap deal, Lebanese media report. |
The official National News Agency said the handover was under way outside the north-eastern border town of Arsal. | The official National News Agency said the handover was under way outside the north-eastern border town of Arsal. |
Earlier, al-Nusra Front handed over to officials the body of one of the four security personnel killed in captivity. | Earlier, al-Nusra Front handed over to officials the body of one of the four security personnel killed in captivity. |
The release is part of a deal brokered by Qatar that will see the Lebanese authorities free a number of prisoners. | The release is part of a deal brokered by Qatar that will see the Lebanese authorities free a number of prisoners. |
One of the prisoners is believed to be Saja al-Dulaimi, an ex-wife of Islamic State (IS) leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. | |
Militants from al-Nusra and the rival jihadist group, Islamic State, seized more than two dozen soldiers and policemen during a major attack on Arsal in August 2014. | Militants from al-Nusra and the rival jihadist group, Islamic State, seized more than two dozen soldiers and policemen during a major attack on Arsal in August 2014. |
The conflict in Syria has heightened sectarian tensions in Lebanon, with violence regularly spilling over its border and more than a million refugees arriving. | The conflict in Syria has heightened sectarian tensions in Lebanon, with violence regularly spilling over its border and more than a million refugees arriving. |