- Title: Lebanon identifies soldiers killed in Islamic State captivity
- Date: 6th September 2017
- Summary: BEIRUT, LEBANON (SEPTEMBER 6, 2017) (REUTERS) FATHER OF SOLDIER HUSSEIN YOUSSEF ENTERING PRESS CONFERENCE ROOM (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) FATHER OF A SOLDIER WHO DIED IN ISLAMIC STATE CAPTIVITY, HUSSEIN YOUSSEF, SAYING: "What I want to say today is that there is immense and deep sadness in our hearts, there are tears that we've been holding back for three years. But in our minds, there is pride and dignity. Today we are sure of all the results (of DNA tests identifying the bodies). They proved that the soldiers that were captured before are martyrs today." LEBANESE FLAG ON TOP OF GRAND SERAIL, HEADQUARTERS OF THE PRIME MINISTER OF LEBANON VARIOUS OF GRAND SERAIL JOURNALISTS AND PEOPLE GATHERED IN FRONT OF TENTS WHERE RELATIVES OF SOLDIERS ARE LEBANESE AND ARMY FLAGS HANGING ON TENT TENT IN FRONT OF GRAND SERAIL WHERE FAMILIES OF SOLDIERS HAVE BEEN PROTESTING SINCE 2014 (SOUNDBITE) BROTHER OF A SOLDIER WHO DIED IN ISLAMIC STATE CAPTIVITY, NIZAM MOUGHEIT, SAYING: "Every person, who set his hand to or was involved in the martyrdom of these soldiers should be revealed and held accountable, whoever it is."
- Embargoed: 20th September 2017 16:20
- Keywords: IS militants Lebanese army captured soldiers in Lebanon relatives of captured soldiers Islamic State
- Location: BEIRUT, RAS BAALBEK AND ARSAL, LEBANON
- City: BEIRUT, RAS BAALBEK AND ARSAL, LEBANON
- Country: Lebanon
- Topics: Conflicts/War/Peace
- Reuters ID: LVA0016XGMD6V
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Lebanon has identified the bodies of 10 of its soldiers found along the Syrian border in a zone taken back from Islamic State last week, state news agency NNA said on Wednesday (September 6).
Islamic State had held territory along the border for years, and took Lebanese troops captive in 2014 when they briefly overran the town of Arsal with other militants, one of the worst spillovers of the Syrian conflict into Lebanon.
Lebanese Justice Minister Salim Jrayssati said a military court would look into whether any civil or military authorities played a role in their capture. President Michel Aoun called for an investigation last week.
At a conference on Wednesday, the families of the soldiers demanded an inquiry to punish anyone who led to the deaths during the fighting and negotiations since 2014.
For three years, they had protested in the streets and met with many government officials to find out the fate of their relatives. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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