Al-Qaida in Syria releases 16 Lebanese prisoners in swap deal

A Lebanese policeman who was kidnapped by Nusra Front, is carried by his relatives upon his arrival at the government palace, in Beirut, Lebanon, Tuesday, Dec. 1, 2015. The Nusra Front Syria’s al-Qaida branch on Tuesday released a group of Lebanese troops held captive for over a year as part of a Qatar-brokered swap that involved Lebanon setting free at least 11 prisoners wanted by the militants, including a former wife of the Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla)

Al Qaeda’s Syrian wing, the Nusra Front, released Lebanese soldiers and policemen held captive since August 2014 in a Qatari-mediated swap deal that also secured freedom for a jailed ex-wife of ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi.

According to AlAraby AlJadeed, the sixteen Lebanese servicemen were captured by Nusra on the northeast border – more than a year ago – and were handed over on Tuesday at a meeting point on the outskirts of Lebanese Arsal in exchange for Islamist prisoners.

The Nusra Front seized the Lebanese during an attack on the border town of Arsal mounted together with the Islamic State jihadist group which is still believed to be holding nine soldiers captured in the incursion.

Live TV footage from the border area between Lebanon and Syria showed the Lebanese captives in vehicles accompanied by masked men armed with assault rifles and waving the Nusra Front flag before they were released to the Red Cross, according to Reuters. The exchange began with the Nusra Front releasing the body of one of the Lebanese soldiers it had killed in captivity, Mohamed Hamieh, earlier on Tuesday.

Thirteen Islamists in Lebanese jails, including Saja al-Dulaimi, the ex-wife of Baghdadi, were released in exchange. Dulaimi was shown in live local TV footage with her three children who were with her in prison.

Nusra Front fighters were shown kissing and hugging the sons of Dulaimi, who was arrested by the Lebanese authorities a year ago. Speaking to Al Jazeera, she said her wish was to return to Beirut and then to leave to Turkey.

“We accomplished the entire agreement with Nusra. We received our heroic soldiers and we are on our way back to Beirut,” top Lebanese security official Abbas Ibrahim, who oversaw the swap, told Reuters.

“This joy is not complete until the return of those kidnapped by Daesh (ISIS). We are ready to negotiate with Daesh (ISIS) if we find someone to negotiate with,” he said.

The Nusra Front fighters chanted “God is great” as they arrived with the captives in preparation for the swap. One of the captives, interviewed by Al Jazeera, said the group had treated them well. “Praise be to God. The joy cannot be described,” another of the captives told Al Jazeera.

The Lebanese government will reportedly deliver food and logistical supplies to the rebel group, as part of the deal. While the deal puts an end to the plight of kidnapped Lebanese servicemen held by Nusra, other soldiers continue to be held hostage by ISIS for more than a year now. It was also reported that there has been no communication with the kidnappers or the hostages since December 2014, according to AlAraby AlJadeed

Qatar has been involved in efforts to mediate the release of the captives for a year or more. A previous effort to secure their release broke down a year ago after one of the captives was killed.