Lebanon pauses strike against IS on Syrian border

Negotiations under way to free troops held hostage

BEIRUT: Lebanon’s army has announced a pause in its offensive against Islamic State (IS) group militants along the border with Syria to allow for negotiations on troops taken hostage in 2014.

The armed forces launched their campaign against IS militants entrenched in the mountainous Jurud Ras Baalbek and Jurud al-Qaa areas on Lebanon’s eastern border on Aug 19.

“The army command announces a ceasefire beginning at 7am (0400 GMT) to make way for the last phase of negotiations linked to the fate of the kidnapped soldiers,” it said yesterday.

Nine troops are believed to still be held by IS after militants overran the border town of Arsal in August 2014 and kidnapped 30 soldiers and policemen.

Four were killed by their cap- tors and a fifth died of his wounds, while 16 were freed in a prisoner swap in December 2015.

The army has said the remaining missing troops were its “top concern” in its offensive against an estimated 600 IS fighters in the hilly border region.

“There has been no timeframe set” for the truce, an army source said.

“The negotiations are ongoing for IS to withdraw and provide information on the fate of the troops.”

Six Lebanese army troops have been killed since Aug 19.

Lebanese militant group Hezbollah launched its own simultaneous attack against IS from the Syrian side of the border in west Qalamun.

Hezbollah’s War Media channel also announced a freeze in fighting yesterday. — AFP