Lebanese army begins talks with Islamic State: reports

BEIRUT: The Lebanese army began mediated talks with Islamic State on Sunday as a ceasefire took effect in its offensive against the militants at the northeast border with Syria, a security source said.

The ceasefire started at 7:00 a.m. (0500 BST) to allow for negotiations over the fate of nine Lebanese soldiers who have been in Islamic State captivity since 2014, the army said.

Lebanon’s Hezbollah and the Syrian army also declared a ceasefire in their own assault against Islamic State on the other side of the border, in Syria’s west Qalamoun region, Hezbollah’s al-Manar TV said.

Under the ceasefire, Hezbollah members have entered an area of west Qalamoun to confirm that Lebanese soldiers held by Islamic State are buried there, the source said.