(MENAFN- QNA) The Al-Nusra Front said last night that it had executed one of the Lebanese soldiers captured several months ago, blaming Lebanese authorities for failing to heed their earlier threats to kill the soldier if they did not release Front members detained in Lebanon.
"We executed the prisoner of war, Ali al-Bazzal. This is the least we can do in response to the Lebanese army," the group said on Twitter.
It went on to warn that another soldier would be executed soon if all "the brothers [Front members] who had been arrested unjustly were not freed."
The announcement came one week after the Al-Qaeda-linked group threatened to execute al-Bazzal if the Lebanese authorities failed to release a detained female Front member.
The Al-Nusra Front has gave Lebanese authorities until midnight Friday, to meet its demands.
In February, the Lebanese army arrested three women who were reportedly driving an explosive-laden car.
Two of them were released after being cleared by authorities, while a third – who had been driving the car – was charged with "transporting a car bomb" and now awaits trial.
Earlier this week, the Lebanese army reportedly arrested one of the wives of the Islamic State (IS) militant group's leader, along with one of his sons on the border with Syria.
In August, the IS and the Al-Nusra Front captured several Lebanese soldiers near the border with war-torn Syria.
Al-Nusra captured 18 Lebanese troops in the melee, while the IS reportedly captured seven.
The ISIL has since executed two of the captive soldiers, while Al-Nusra has killed another, not including al-Bazzal.
The Lebanese government decided Friday to engage in "direct negotiations" with the captors of the Lebanese troops and policeme.
The government's decision was reached during an emergency security meeting at the Grand Serail that was attended by Prime Minister Tammam Salam, the ministers of defense, interior, justice, finance and health, in addition to the chiefs of the army and security agencies.
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