Beirut: Three weeks after the bloody confrontations between the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) and Syrian extremist groups led by the Jabhat Al Nusra in the Northern Bekaa Valley city of Arsal that cost the lives of 19 soldiers, at least 15 civilians, and more than 60 militants, the names of 26 (out of 28 believed to be alive) kidnapped soldiers were released on Monday, although no one would confirm whether this tally was complete. Earlier reports stated that at least 32 or perhaps up to 35 officers, were taken hostage. Three were released in early August. According to a mediating group — assumed to be the Committee of Muslim Scholars — 10 LAF members were being held by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (Isil), while the Jabhat Al Nusra allegedly held 15 Internal Security Forces (ISF) policemen, 3 LAF soldiers and the corpse of officer Mousa Tabbouri.
Hostages held by Isil
LAF Soldiers
Khalid Hasan
Ali Al Sayyed
Hussain Mahmoud Ammar
Abdul-Rahim Mohammad Diab
Ali Zayd Al Masri
Saif Hasan Thebian
Ebrahim Moghayt
Abbas Medlej
Mohammad Yousuf
Ali Haj Hassan
Hostages held by the Jabhat Al Nusra:
LAF Soldiers
Mohammad Maarouf Hammiyeh
Two unidentified soldiers
ISF Captives
Ahmad Abbas
Ali Bazzal
Abbas Mshayk
Lame’ Mzahem
Salah Al Baradghi
Sleiman Dirani
Mohammad Taleb
Ziad Amr
George Khizaqa
Ihab Al Atrash
Maher Fayyad
Wael Homs
Maymoun Jaber
Pierre Geagea
Rawad Bedrahmein
