Mukhtar al-Thaqfi Brigade Joins al-Meqdad Clan in Kidnapping Syrians
إقرأ هذا الخبر بالعربية
An obscure group calling itself Mukhtar al-Thaqfi Brigade claimed on Thursday that it kidnapped members of the Free Syrian Army in Lebanon after the spokesman of al-Meqdad clan vowed to abduct more Syrian nationals in retaliation for the seizure of a family member in Syria.
LBCI TV aired a videotape of alleged FSA members calling on Syrian rebels to release Hassan al-Meqdad who was kidnapped in Syria this week.
Claiming to be Mukhtar al-Thaqfi Brigade members, the masked kidnappers said from their base in Beirut's southern suburbs that five Syrians have so far been seized in Beirut and another five in the eastern Bekaa valley.
One of them told LBCI's reporter that the militants will expand their operations to other areas if al-Meqdad was not released.
Immediately after the video was aired, the TV station said another Syrian identified as Hussam Yehya Khashroum, 42, was kidnapped by four gunmen near Chtaura hospital in the Bekaa.
LBCI reported later on Thursday that the group released four abductees "as a gesture of goodwill on the occasion of Eid al-Fitr."
"The group said it will keep 15 Syrians in its custody and asked the Syrian people to help release the Lebanese abductees," LBCI added.
The brigade’s announcement came after al-Meqdad clan’s spokesman Maher al-Meqdad reiterated that the family’s military wing will abduct more Syrian nationals unless FSA rebels release the man.
The wave of hostage-taking has prompted Gulf countries to call on all their citizens in Lebanon to leave immediately.
But Maher told the National News Agency that “neither Gulf nor Arab citizens have anything to do with the kidnapping operation.”
“The problem of al-Meqdad family is with the abductors or so-called FSA,” he said.
The clan is waiting for an initiative from the International Committee of the Red Cross to meet with Hassan, he added.
The family’s military wing has reportedly so far arrested around 20 Syrians and a Turkish citizen, although the Turkish embassy did not confirm the allegation.
16 August 2012, 13:29
27
the Meqdad family military wing and now this, just when you think you've heard of them all, plain rubbish, sad how all the scum have ruined a beautiful country like ours, it's sickening.
16 August 2012, 13:30
00
Al Megdad who was captured by the FSA was caught fighti ng in Syria against the FSA in a country not his. The Syrian in Lebanon who are caotured are civilians and not fighting against Lebanon. You can't equate the two kidnapping. This is terrorist activity in Lebanon and lawful in Syria.
16 August 2012, 13:33
00
Are we living in a jungle? Is there a real government in Lebanon? How could such a clan abduct as they please in a country purportedly sovreign as Lebanon? It's really very bad.
16 August 2012, 13:36
11
This is not good, the construction sector will be badly hit. They need to start looking at a new country who supplies labor. "A brigade a day, will keep the Syrians away".
16 August 2012, 13:47
02
هذه نتيجة سياسة النأي بالنفس و ضع في قمة المسخرة و الخوف, شو عملتو بالبلد الله لا يسامح كل واحد مسؤول
16 August 2012, 13:49
00
I also like to make janah askary for my family!!! LOL LOL if all families in Lebanon do same will be great
16 August 2012, 15:01
32
Ah these guys think they can do what they want ? I don't even think they really belong to Hezbollah they are just scum with a big family. Well since the war ended most the militias gave their big weapons to the army. But still some of the fighters dug their old weapons in case such things like now might happen. If these thugs continue like that and our army doesn't intervene we have to dig the old weapons up and do it on our own!!!!
16 August 2012, 15:16
13
Overall you got it right, but a clarification:
- the thugs taking up the streets now are amal and hizbushaitan driven,
- otherwise they would not dare to act
- their role if to capture and kill the FSA which our govvernment refused to do, and amal and hizbuhaitan cannot do openly.
- so under false pretenses (are we so sure the moqdad guy was abducted by FSA? for all I know it could be the moukhabarat).
yes the syro/iranian thugs are doing all this to destoy the country.
16 August 2012, 19:32
01
another way to look at this is that I haven't seen this kind of brazen lawlessness committed en mass by masked gunmen along with news of previous MP's with plots to blow up people since 1975. I have a sinking feeling that these are deliberate distractions, a preamble so to speak, for what the Party of Satan is preparing for us next...I believe their masters in Iran are about to order them to provoke a war with Israel to deter the WEST from helping FSA overcome the Assad regime.
16 August 2012, 15:22
25
hizbushaitan and berri have chosen their side, and are dragging Lebanon to its destruction.
Gulf countries will start now kicking out Lebanese from their countries, you can mark my words on this, thus aggravating our economic situation, thanks to the shiite community.
we will have a bad period but on the long run, we will recover our country, and the iranians will be kicked out.
it will start soon with the israeli war, and will continue afterwards internally.
unless hizbushaitan tries to strike internally first to clear his back, but I doubt they would venture in something so stupid now they know we are well prepared for any eventuality of this sort.
16 August 2012, 15:58
12
the shiites that are going to be deported will have hizbushaitan and amal to thank :)
the problem is that their leadership does not care about them, and they are blind to even question the motives of their leaders. sad community in its majority, while the other part of this community is under threat from within more than we are to even voice their comments.
16 August 2012, 15:39
03
I cannot believe this government is doing nothing and letting these thugs roam free. Its cuting its nose to spite its face.this could translate big in the next election.
16 August 2012, 15:40
03
Mikati......hellooooo.... grow a pair and DO something about it! Useless, powerless, gutless, incapable PM!!
16 August 2012, 15:53
03
the1phoenix
please disregard comments from karim as he is not even worth disgussing with.
16 August 2012, 16:00
12
asking mikati to do something while he is under the orders of his syro/iranian masters is wishfull thinking. :)
it is wrong to even expect anything from this guy.
16 August 2012, 16:35
00
Martial law would be instated particularly in Beirut and Suburbs...
A branch of Army, ISF, and even Hezbollah should be formed with the head being the ARMY of course...(isnt HA's moto..the army, resistance and whatever this three equation law they enforced years ago on us is?)
...Members of that 'special unit' should sweep the country and keep all citizens and non-citizens safe...eradicate the threat that has sprung (from nothing i'd like to add)...Either kill or capture all these clans, thugs, mercenaries..whatever you wish to call them...
this is a good way to disassociate the country from what is happening in syria.. and a good way for HA to show that they are ready to assist in keeping their people in line...
and if a Lebanese is captured on Syrian soil..what the hell is he doing there
16 August 2012, 17:08
10
READ THIS ...
http://stateofmind13.com/2012/08/16/lebanon-described-in-1870/
16 August 2012, 19:22
11
You're sick FT, but this was funny I have to admit. I gave you a thumbs up, first time ever :)
16 August 2012, 19:36
01
Irrational, insignificant, broken record, repetitive, pathological liar with deliberate indifference for others.
16 August 2012, 19:38
01
@the1phoenix, this is my humble opinion. War is coming:
another way to look at this is that I haven't seen this kind of brazen lawlessness committed en mass by masked gunmen along with news of previous MP's with plots to blow up people since 1975. I have a sinking feeling that these are deliberate distractions, a preamble so to speak, for what the Party of Satan is preparing for us next...I believe their masters in Iran are about to order them to provoke a war with Israel to deter the WEST from helping FSA overcome the Assad regime.
16 August 2012, 19:39
11
FT, talking to yourself with two different screen names is pretty scary...
