A Lebanese government source told Al-Monitor that negotiations between the Lebanese government and armed terrorist groups affiliated with the Islamic State (IS) and Jabhat al-Nusra, which captured 25 Lebanese soldiers Aug. 2, 2014, has become limited to two mediators only. The first mediator is publicly known, represented by the mayor of the town of Arsal, Ahmed al-Faliti, while the second remains secret, though it is known he is from Arsal.

Located in northeast Lebanon along the Syrian border, Arsal is adjacent to the rural areas where terrorists are deployed.

The government source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said that negotiations with the militants to release the kidnapped soldiers has been complicated and has yet to yield positive steps. However, both sides have recently agreed to develop specific grounds for negotiations.

From the beginning, militants have followed the orders of multiple authorities who have different, sometimes contradictory, demands. The fact that several mediators handled the negotiations at first made matters worse, but eventually a clear process has been defined.