Jabhat Al-Nusra Demands to be Removed from the Terror Watch List

Jabhat Al-Nusra successfully captured the border crossing into Israel after the latter bombarded SAA positions in the Al-Quneitra Governate. The day after capturing the border crossing into Israel, Jabhat Al-Nusra took 43 U.N. Peacekeeping soldiers from Fiji prisoner. Jabhat Al-Nusra posted a video of the captured soldiers, depicting the men unharmed and in good spirits, despite their captivity.

Jabhat Al-Nusra has posted a new message demanding that the organization be removed from the Terror Watch List, in order for the exchange of soldiers. The U.N. has not responded to their request and it will be highly unlikely that they will compromise given the current situation. Jabhat Al-Nusra soldiers have also been seen in U.N. vehicles they have seized from the soldiers.

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This is not the first time Jabhat Al-Nusra has kidnapped civilians or soldiers; last winter, 9 nuns were kidnapped in the village of Ma’aloula in the Rif Dimashq Governate. After weeks of negotiations between Qatari and Lebanese Governments, the nuns were released in exchange for money and their wives held in Syrian Government prisons.