Lebanese army chief vows to reveal fate of kidnapped soldiers

Lebanese Army Commander General Jean Qahwaji vowed on Monday that the army will spare no efforts to reveal the fate of the Lebanese soldiers kidnapped by the Islamic State (IS) and liberate them, the National News Agency reported.

At least 33 soldiers and policemen were kidnapped by the al-Qaida linked al-Nusra Front and the IS during deadly clashes with the army when the fundamentalists overran the northeastern border town of Arsal.

While al-Nusra released 16 captives as part of a swap deal in December 2015 after having executed four soldiers, nine hostages remain in the captivity of the IS who beheaded another one.

Meanwhile, Qahwaji hailed the election of President Michel Aoun and said it turns a new page for Lebanon that will help to found the basis for national unification that has long been sought.

"The election of President Michel Aoun has turned a new page and reshaped the broad lines of a political reality that has witnessed a lot of divisions and alignments. It heralds a promising era in the regularity of the state institutions and the integration of their roles, and to improve stability," Qahwaji said.

Aoun was elected as president on Oct. 31, ending a presidential vacuum that lasted for over two and a half years. Endit