BEIRUT: Relatives of 1st. Adj. Kamal Mohammad Hujeiri waited in eager anticipation for his release Thursday, having received assurances that he would be discharged from Army custody before Eid al-Adha.
The kidnapping of the soldier, who was freed earlier this week after a Qatari-led delegation held protracted talks with Islamist militants in Arsal’s outskirts, might indicate to what extent ISIS makes use of local Arsali gangs to do their bidding.
“Kamal has not arrived yet, but we expect him to be reunited with his family tomorrow at the latest,” Khaled Hujeiri, an uncle, told The Daily Star. General Security transferred the released man to Army officials Thursday, where he underwent questioning.
“The family has been reassured that Kamal is free and with Lebanese government officials,” Hujeiri said. Prior to this week the family had not heard from their captured member since his abduction two weeks ago.