Syrian businessmen released on ransom

Security sources revealed that the two abducted Syrian businessman, Imad and Hisham Abdel Raouf, and Lebanese Khaled Abdel Salam Hamada were released on ransom three weeks after being abducted in Bekaa. The amount of the ransom has not been mentioned. Sources reported that the release took place “18 days after the kidnapping of the Syrian brothers and the Lebanese citizen by an allegedly joint Lebanese-Syrian group that has been working in the region for months, coinciding with the security deterioration in Syria.” The same sources stated that the release would not have taken place if the ransom had not been paid. Unconfirmed reports to Arabstoday said that the payment may have exceeded $2mn. After their release, the three men were taken to the intelligence office in Bekaa to testify in order to find out the kidnappers' identity.