Kahwaji: Video of captured soldiers authentic

Army Commander Jean Kahwaji stressed that the Bekaa Valley town of Arsal has now returned to Lebanon's fold, noting that some of the missing 20 soldiers could have died.

In remarks published in al-Mustaqbal newspaper, Kahwaji stressed that Arsal has always been a Lebanese town, affirming that utmost efforts are being exerted so as to fortify it and speed up its development which, according to the army chief, is a must given that it stretches over large geographical areas.

Kahwaji noted that some of the militants have now all retreated into the outskirts of Arsal near the border with Syria, while others have been pushed back to Syria.

The Army commander pointed out that the video, handed over to Prime Minister Tammam Salam, showing Lebanese soldiers held hostage by Islamist militants is authentic, adding that it won't be broadcast to the public out of respect to the captives.

“The number of missing soldiers is around 20... A videotape released by the militants showed the body of a soldier,” he said, noting that the troops have been considered as missing given that the "number of martyrs is not known yet."