DAILY SCOPE: ABDUCTED LEBANESE SOLDIERS.. HOT DEBATE

Local Editor

NEWSPAPERS HEADLINES:

AS-SAFIR:

Qahwaji: Army Breaks Terrorism.. Protects Lebanon From Strife
-
Takfiris Fight in Arsal Outskirts in New Frost Adventure?

AN-NAHAR:

Lebanon Agrees on Kidnappers Offer: 50+5

French Delegation In Beirut To Meet Military Demands

AL-AKHBAR:

Hizbullah Releases Its Captives

Al-Moallem: We Will Study Russia's Ideas On Dialogue

THE DAILYSTAR:

Berri: US, Saudi Arabia back Future, Hizbullah talks

As the Lebanese still anxiously await news on the Lebanese kidnapped soldiers issue, Beirut's southern suburb on Tuesday night celebrated the return of captive Imad Ayad in counterpart of two gunmen that were detained by Hizbullah, after weeks of negotiations with kidnappers.

According to al-Akhbar newspaper, "Hizbullah succeeded in liberating its kidnapped Imad Ayad, who was abducted by the armed terrorist groups Syria. This step, which was suddenly declared will leave major impact on the efforts made to release the Lebanese soldiers kidnapped by the two terrorist groups ‘Daesh' and ‘al-Nusra', especially that the process witnesses many troubles be it concerning the demands, the mediators, or the way the government is dealing with this file."

The newspaper added "In a silent process based on negotiations and security matters, Hizbullah was able to liberate the resistance fighter Imad Ayad, who was kidnapped by the terrorist groups in the outskirts of Qalamoun."

The process, according to the paper, took place in return for releasing two captives of the Syrian terrorist groups who were in the hands of Hizbullah. The two are Merhi Merhi and Merhef Abdel Ghani al-Rayes. al-Akhbar also noted that the primary demands of the so-called ‘Free Syrian Army' who had kidnapped Ayad included a sum of money, evacuating one of the villages that lies at the outskirts of Qalamoun, and guaranteeing that Hizbullah and the Syrian army would not attack this area, in addition to providing means of delivering food supply particularly to avoid any crisis with the coming of the winter.

The Hizbullah obtained information which allowed it to conduct a security operation, abducting two of the terrorist leaders who were taken to a Hizbullah center.

Sources close to Hizbullah told al-Joumhouriya newspaper that three weeks after Ayad was abducted, Hizbullah executed a very precise and delicate operation in which it was able to abduct the two of the so-called ‘Free Syrian Army' military leaders.

Following up on the Lebanese kidnapped soldiers file, a committee is designated to meet Wednesday noon to tackle the matter, during which Head of the Security Forces Abbas Ibrahim will explain the outcome of communication between Beirut, Doha, and Damascus and other unannounced mediators. The paper assured that the Qatari mediator has not stopped his efforts, yet awaits a new plan based on which he would act.

For its part, an-Nahar newspaper said the Lebanese government has approved on the demand of the kidnappers, to free 5 jailed terrorists from Roumeih prison and another 50 from Syrian prisons in return for each Lebanese soldier. The paper also noted that the Qatari mediator is not in Lebanon for the moment, yet he is following up on the negotiations with the abductors and waits for an answer to deliver to the Lebanese government.

As for as-Safir Lebanese daily, warned that according to Army Obervation Units, terrorist groups in Arsal and Qalamoun outskirts are preparing to target the Lebanese army once again. The army units, according to the paper, have observed heavy and constant movement of the terrorist groups, and an attempt to advance in some of the hills adjacent to the Qa'a village in the Lebanese Bekaa valley.

Yet the paper quoted the source assuring that the Lebanese army strict measures have succeeded in blocking any adventurous bloody operations so far by the terrorist groups.

Moreover, as-Safir quoted Lebanese army Chief Jean Qahwaji saying that "The army is not the same before and after Arsal [confrontations]." He explained that "the army is united and integrated, and is ready for any confrontation or emergency." He further noted that the confrontations that took place in Tripoli broke all terrorist groups and changed the balance of battles, allowing the army to move freely and strongly in the region.

He finally assured that the Lebanese army has foiled the destructive scheme that was drawn to destroy Lebanon, through sectarian strife that would burn the country.