Turkey's intel to secure release of kidnapped Lebanese in Syria in ‘days'

The National Intelligence Organization (MİT) has been working on the issue for some time now at the frequent requests of Lebanese authorities and families of the kidnapped Lebanese pilgrims. The intelligence agency is concluding its work and the pilgrims will be released in a matter of days, the Anatolia news agency reported on Sunday.

The footage of the kidnapped Lebanese showed that they are happy and in good condition. The names of the kidnapped men are Hassan Arzune, Haj Abbas Mahmoud, Hassan Hammune, Ali Turmus, Abbas Hassan Shuayb, Haj Ebu Ali Salih, Muhammad Mounzir, Seyyid Ali Abbas and Mukhtar Ali Hussein Zagib. They said in the video that their condition and morale are good and that they are sure that they will return home and reunite with their families.

Syrian anti-regime forces abducted 11 Lebanese Shiite pilgrims last May, apparently to use them in a prisoner swap with the Syrian government. Two of them were later released.

Turkey, which insists that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad must leave power, is hosting several leaders of the Free Syrian Army, which primarily consists of Syrian army defectors and is in close contact with the Syrian National Council, an umbrella organization for anti-regime political groups.

From time to time since then, Lebanese leaders have traveled to Ankara to ask Turkish authorities to intervene with the captors.

Two Turkish nationals were kidnapped in Lebanon months after the abduction of the Lebanese men in Syria. They were later released.

Earlier this year, families of the kidnapped Lebanese pilgrims also staged several protests outside a regional Turkish Airlines (THY) office, asking Turkey to work harder for the release of their relatives.

The kidnapped Zagib said he joins with his “revolutionary Syrian brothers” in demanding the release of all women in Syrian prisons, referring to an earlier demand that all women prisoners be released made by the Syrian opposition group that is holding the Lebanese group.

The group that captured the pilgrims call themselves “Northern Storm" and are holding nine Lebanese pilgrims.

Two of the 11 kidnapped Lebanese pilgrims were released thanks to Turkey's mediation in August 2012.