Lebanese Army Declares Freeing 5 People, including Soldier, from Captivity

The Lebanese army on Thursday said it freed five people, including a soldier, who were kidnapped a day earlier in al-Bouar-Tabarja neighborhood.

Lebanon's "intelligence service succeeded in freeing five people, including a soldier, who were kidnapped at dawn yesterday in al-Bouar," said a Lebanese army communiqué. It said the five were kidnapped over "ethical behavior matters" by the family of a minor girl.

Investigation is still underway to determine the location of the girl and refer the suspects to the judiciary, the army statement added.

Earlier, Hizbullah has denied claims of involvement in the kidnapping of a Lebanese soldier on Wednesday. "Reports carried out by some media outlets connecting Hizbullah to the kidnapping of a Lebanese soldier are completely false," the party said in a statement.

The party issued a statement saying all media reports on the abduction of the Lebanese soldier in Kesrouan town of Tabarja were fabrications.

Earlier on Wednesday, al-Nashra website reported that the Lebanese soldier's name was Corporal Rashid Ghossein who was kidnapped along with Deeb al-Haibi from a beach cabin owned by Jean Azar in Bowar-Tabarja. The report added that the six kidnappers fled to an unknown destiny in their white car and blue Land Rover.