How long will Lebanon soldiers remain at the mercy of Al Nusra?

The Takfiri group has threatened to kill a second solider in retaliation to stalled negotiations with the government.

The video released by the takfiri insurgents show solider Mohammad Hammieh being shot in the head while another soldier, Ali al-Bazzal, pleading for action before he becomes the second victim. Al Nusra Front says it hopes to exchange the soldiers for members of the group being held in Lebanese prisons. But some doubt that Lebanese Prime Minister Tammam Salam blamed the takfiri groups for the stalled negotiations on releasing the army hostages. The Nusra Front and the ISIL are both demanding the release of Takfiri prisoners in Lebanon’s Roumieh Prison in exchange for the Lebanese hostages. 

Although Lebanese officials say they are doing all in their power to help release the Lebanese army soldiers held captive by Takfiri groups, families have blamed the government for a lack of courage and strength.

The killings of the soldiers have inspired short-lived sectarian retaliations, with tit-for-tat kidnappings in the Bekaa Valley between Sunnis and Shiites raising fears of renewed civil strife.

The source said that the leaders of both Hezbollah and the Sunni community in the Bekaa Valley appeared to want to contain tensions.

The Sunni leaders have urged level-headedness in response to kidnappings and alleged abuses by security and military personnel toward Sunnis.

Hezbollah allows expressions of anger and street protests and then retakes control of the situation in the Bekaa Valley villages, the source said.

“It is clear the kidnappers must exchange prisoners for the soldiers,” the source said. “It is not appropriate at all for the situation to remain as it is with the soldiers being killed, dying a slow death.

“The government’s rigid position from a military and political perspective is causing loss of control on the street.”