Whereabouts of Lebanese Army Hostages

Although most of militants agreed to withdrawing from Arsal, such an assault is likely to reoccur at any time. Gunmen retreated into an area that is located only two kilometers away from Lebanese-Syrian borders and regained their posts to watch the implementation of the conditional ceasefire. 

Muslim Scholar Commitee vowed to abide by the conditions set by militants who demanded ceasing the fire, entering the aids to the town and avoiding the arrest of Lebanese national and Syrian refugees.

As for the soldiers and ISF members held captive by three militant factions, they will all be released once the gunmen withdraw to the outskirts.

Sources close to the militants told al-Akhbar daily that Arsal will be invaded again should said agreement be violated.

"But next time, we will attack the army checkpoints with car bombs," the sources stressed.

On the other side of the scale, military sources said that the most important issue now is to free the hostages.

"The truce will remain vulnerable as long as the militants are present at our borders," the sources said. "The army will arrest all those involved in shedding our blood; settlements are out of question."

Militants affiliated to al-Nusra Front were the first to withdraw from Arsal; their emir, "Abou Malek al-Shami", had arrived in person to the town so as to conduct negotiations with other factions that were rejecting the withdrawal.

Where are Lebanese Army hostages being held?

Militant groups taking part in Arsal clashes had set the release of Abu Ahmad Jomaa as a precondition for their pullout; a demand that eventually turned out to be far-fetched. Al-Nusra Front deemed the occupation of Arsal as a foolish act that will cut off the only channel of supplies and movement.

"Sheikhs Abou Malek al-Talli and Mustafa Houjeiri demanded the Islamic State (IS) gunmen to withdraw from Arsal to prevent further bloodhsed," the Nusra Front sources said.

But other militants had another point of view; despite knowing that their demand will not be realized, they declined to withdraw. Their emir Abou al-Hassan al-Falastini died of his wounds while his deputy Abou Ahmad Jomaa is detained by Lebanese Army. They are the ones holding six soldiers captive and control the whole town in addition, compelling the Lebanese Army to thoroughly mull any decision to storm or shell the town.