Beirut: Around 20 detainees held in Roumieh prison were moved on Saturday to a general security facility in preparation for a prisoner exchange with the Al Qaida-affiliated Al Nusra Front which is holding 25 Lebanese soldiers, according to press reports on Saturday. First abducted in August 2014 in the wake of clashes between the Lebanese army and Al Nusra fighters in the north eastern border town of Arsal, 16 of the hostages would be exchanged in the pending swap.
However, General Abbas Ebrahim, the official who managed the case since 2014, said negotiations have not yet reached concrete agreement.
A security official contacted by Gulf News refused to give a date for the possible release but he noted “serious progress was achieved”.
On the list of detainees to be released were several women prisoners who are mostly Syrian, including Saja Al Dulaimi, Jumana Hmeid, Samar Al Hindi, Leila Al Najjar and Ola Al Qqaili.
Al Dulaimi is married to Daesh leader Abu Bakr Al Baghdadi, although they are rumoured to be divorced.
Two weeks ago, Ebrahim reportedly reactivated negotiations under Qatari mediation. The Voice of Lebanon radio station reported that a convoy of more than 20 SUVs was seen crossing the Dahr Al Baidar checkpoint on its way to Arsal “with the aim of carrying out the prisoner swap”.
Shaikh Nabil Rahim, a prominent Muslim cleric, confirmed to Voice of Lebanon that the Roumieh prisoners were to be swapped on Saturday and have been transferred to Beirut in preparation.
Four Lebanese soldiers who were taken hostage in August 2014 were executed. Families of the remaining hostages have sustained an ongoing protest in front of the Grand Serail (Government House) in downtown Beirut, demanding the government secure their release.
