Lebanon says ready to negotiate with Islamic State for soldiers

The Nusra Front had abducted 29 soldiers and policemen in Arsal in 2014 after overrunning the town alongside the “Islamic State” (IS) group for a short period.

The Gulf nation, a strong supporter of insurgents fighting to topple Syrian president, Bashar al-Assad, has a history of mediating prisoners’ exchanges in the Middle East. Al-Jazeera, along with the Lebanese local MTV station, broadcast the release.

The success of humanitarian initiatives is the result of Qatar’s vision that prioritizes peaceful and political solutions for crises, the statement said, adding that the Qatari efforts stemmed from Qatar’s absolute belief in the achievement of humanitarian and moral principles and its keenness on people’s lives and their right to freedom and dignity.

Lebanon received Tuesday the body of slain soldier Mohammad Hammieh from al-Qaeda-affiliate Nusra Front militants, the General Security announced.

Thirteen Islamists in Lebanese jails, including Saja al-Dulaimi, the ex-wife of Baghdadi, were also released. Dulaimi gave birth in prison.

A security source told AFP that 10 of the prisoners had chosen not to be transferred to Al-Nusra and would be returned to Beirut.

Relatives gathered around televisions to watch as their sons, husbands and brothers prepared for their release.

Others distributed candies, and threw petals and rice into the air.

“There will be seven days of drumming and celebrations in Kobayat”, she said, of their ancestral village.

The self-styled ” Islamic State” has refused so far to negotiate on the remaining nine of the captives it still holds.

Al-Nusra demanded that the Lebanese government free radical Sunni Islamist prisoners in exchange for the captives, and killed four of them in an attempt to force Beirut to act.

Four of the hostages were subsequently executed by the two groups, including Mohammed Hammiya, whose body was turned over to Lebanese authorities on Tuesday morning in the first stage of the deal.

One of the captives, interviewed by Al Jazeera, said the group had treated them well.

In recent days, there have been recurring reports that the 16 held by Al-Nusra will be freed in return for the delivery of aid and the release of family members of jihadists.