Interior Minister Nouhad al-Mashnouk denied knowledge of any foreign mediation regarding the kidnapped soldiers' release, assuring that General Security Chief Major General Abbas Ibrahim is not leading any negotiations with regional powers in that scope.

In remarks published in al-Akhbar newspaper Thursday, al-Mashnouk stated that for Ibrahim to assume such a role would require a Cabinet decision, refusing to reveal any information regarding the ongoing negotiations aimed at securing the release of the soldiers.