Islamic State lists conditions to free Lebanese soldiers

An anonymous Lebanese government source informed Al-Monitor that negotiations between Islamic State and Jabhat al-Nusra militants and the Lebanese government are reaping results, though with conditions.
A Lebanese army soldier holds his weapon after being deployed to tighten security, following clashes between Lebanese soldiers and Islamist gunmen in Tripoli, northern Lebanon October 27, 2014. Guns fell silent in the northern Lebanese city of Tripoli on Monday after two days of deadly battles between the army and Islamist gunmen, some of the worst fighting to spill over into Lebanon from Syria's civil war next door. REUTERS/Mohamed Azakir (LEBANON - Tags: CIVIL UNREST MILITARY) - RTR4BR7A
A Lebanese army soldier holds his weapon after being deployed to tighten security, following clashes between Lebanese soldiers and Islamist gunmen in Tripoli, northern Lebanon, Oct. 27, 2014. - REUTERS/Mohamed Azakir
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Jean Aziz (Lebanon Pulse)
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A Lebanese government source told Al-Monitor that negotiations between the Lebanese government and armed terrorist groups affiliated with the Islamic State (IS) and Jabhat al-Nusra, which captured 25 Lebanese soldiers Aug. 2, 2014, has become limited to two mediators only. The first mediator is publicly known, represented by the mayor of the town of Arsal, Ahmed al-Faliti, while the second remains secret, though it is known he is from Arsal.

Located in northeast Lebanon along the Syrian border, Arsal is adjacent to the rural areas where terrorists are deployed.

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