Officials: Wife of IS leader detained in Lebanon

[Valin]

AP:

BASSEM MROUE

Dec. 2, 2014

 

BEIRUT (AP) — Lebanese authorities detained a wife and suspected son of the leader of the Islamic State group several days ago, and she is being questioned, two senior Lebanese officials said Tuesday.

A military official said the woman and child were detained about 10 days ago while carrying fake identification cards.

 

Both officials refused to give further details about the woman who is believed to be one of the wives of Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, the group's reclusive leader. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity in line with regulations.

 

The military official said the woman is a Syrian citizen and is being questioned by authorities.

 

The announcement of the arrest comes amid attempts to reach a prisoner-exchange deal between Lebanese authorities on one side and on the other, the Islamic State group and the Nusra Front, al-Qaida's Syria branch, which have been holding more than 20 Lebanese soldiers and policemen hostage since August. They have demanded the release of Islamist prisoners being held by Lebanese authorities.

On Monday night, the Nusra Front threatened to kill one of the soldiers it holds captive.

The wife's arrest could be used as a bargaining chip for Lebanese authorities in their attempts to win the freedom of the troops.

 

(Snip)