The Islamic State has released a video of nine Lebanese soldiers captured during the Lebanese Army offensive in the ‘Arsal District. A video was first posted by the I.S. showing the brutal beheading of Lebanese soldier, ‘Ali Al-Sayyid. The second video depicted nine Lebanese soldiers pleading for their government and religious leaders to release the inmates aligned with the Islamic State at Roumieh Prison in Lebanon. The soldiers stated that if those men are not released in three days time, they will be executed by their captors.
Earlier today, the Islamic State released five soldiers that were captured by the militants at the ‘Arsal District. The Lebanese soldiers were reported to be in good health, with no major injuries. The Islamic State has issued a statement demanding Hezbollah pull all of its men out of the Qalamoun Mountains, where they are fighting against the Jabhat Al-Nusra and Ahrar Al-Sham militants near the Lebanese border.
Hezbollah has not issued a public response to the Islamic State’s threat; however, it was reported that firefights between the two groups broke out on the Lebanese border this morning.