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.