Lebanon orders halt to military operation against IS on borders with Syria

BEIRUT, Aug 27 (KUNA) -- The Lebanese army on Synday announced a halt to its military operations on the eastern border with Syria against the so-called Islamic State (IS), to allow for negotiations on Lebanese soldiers held hostage by IS.
The Lebanese Army said in a statement that the truce took effect at seven am local time Sunday to make way for the last phase of negotiations with IS on the fate of the kidnapped soldiers.
Director of the General Security Directorate Major-General, Abbas Ibrahim, assigned by the leanese government to follow up the issue of the soldiers with IS, confirmed on Saturday a near end of this issue in coordination with the leadership of the Lebanese army.
The Lebanese army a week ago launched a military operation to liberate towns on the outskirts of Ras Baalbek and Al-Qaa from IS, said the Army Commander General Joseph Aoun Saturday.
IS kidnapped 30 soldiers and policemen, four of whom were killed and one died of his wounds. In December 2015, 16 hostages were released as part of a prisoner swap, while nine were still held by IS.(end) wsm.ha