Qaeda affiliate releases Hezbollah captive

Hezbollah says the al-Qaeda-linked al-Nusra Front in Syria has released one of its members in exchange for two militants.

“With the grace of Almighty Allah, and after weeks of negotiations… Brother Imad Ayyad was freed in exchange for two militants who were in Hezbollah custody, today afternoon Tuesday, 25/11/2014,” the Lebanese resistance movement said in a statement.

Hezbollah wished that all prisoners and hostages “would be granted freedom and safety.”

Hezbollah has sent thousands of fighters to support Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s army’s bid to quell a nearly-four-year-long conflict across the country.

The Lebanese group has played a key role in fighting around Damascus, especially in Qalamun, a Syrian region bordering Lebanon.