Syrian kidnappers on Friday expressed their readiness to free the Lebanese nationals held hostage since last year in exchange for the release of a number of detainees in Syrian jails.
“After multiple mediation [attempts] from humanitarian and international organizations, we announce our approval to release the nine Lebanese guests in exchange for the release of the female detainees in the prisons of [Syrian President Bashar] al-Assad’s gangs,” the North Storm Brigade said in a statement it released on Friday.
The abductors added that this was their “only request,” and called on the parties urging them to free the kidnapped Lebanese, “especially Turkey and the Gulf countries,” to execute their request.
In May 2012, eleven Lebanese pilgrims were abducted in Azaz in the Aleppo district while returning from a pilgrimage to Iran. Two of them were released in following months.
Earlier in February, Interior Minister Mansour Charbel announced that he had been informed by Turkish authorities of the death of the mastermind behind the abduction. He was known to go by the name of Abu Ibrahim.
However, Free Syrian Army spokesperson Louay al-Moqdad declined to state whether or not the abductor of the Lebanese pilgrims had been killed.
