Negotiations with ISIL over Captive Servicemen Hit Brick Wall

Negotiations with the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) reached a dead end after the group placed tough conditions to release the servicemen in its captivity, media reports said on Friday.

According to al-Mustaqbal newspaper, ISIL links the release of the hostages to the operation carried out by the Lebanese army on Lebanon's eastern border with Syria.

Sources pointed out that Qatar vowed to exert efforts to release captives taken by the group, similarly to the negotiations carried out with the Qaida-affiliate al-Nusra Front.

The sources said that ISIL is seeking the release of convicted inmates, including females, who were linked to terror acts across Lebanon in return for the freedom of the servicemen,

However, the state deems the group's demands as “not serious.”

The sources said that the unidentified Qatari-appointed mediator still didn't kick start the direct negotiations with ISIL leaders until the results of talks with al-Nusra Front surface.

They noted that Turkey is also playing a logistic role in the negotiations by facilitating communication between the group and the mediator from one side and fortifying communication channels between Qatar and Lebanon.

In August, extremists from ISIL and al-Nusra Front overran the northeastern border town of Arsal where they engaged in brief clashes with the army.

They withdrew from Arsal at the end of the fighting, but kidnapped a number of servicemen.

A few were released, four were executed, while the rest remain held.

The ISIL and al-Nusra Front want to exchange the captives with Islamist prisoners in Lebanon and Syria.

Media reports said recently that servicemen taken hostage by al-Nusra Front are expected to be released within 10 days after negotiations with the group reached a breakthrough.

H.K.

G.K.