Nusra Front Friday denied reports that it sought to exchange captured Lebanese troops with detainees in Syrian prisons or militants held by Hezbollah.
Anadolu News Agency quoted Nusra sources as saying that their demands to release the Lebanese soldiers did not include the release of militants in Syrian prisons, saying their conditions were not "impossible."
Al-Akhbar reported in an article published Friday that Hezbollah and the Syrian government could intervene in the negotiations to release militants they captured during battles in Syria and exchange them with the captured Lebanese troops.
Speaking to the Turkish agency, the Nusra commander said Hezbollah was not holding any of their fighters.
"We want to be realistic with our demands ... our demands are just and easy to achieve, which only indicates that we honestly want the case of the captured soldiers to end."
The commander also accused Hezbollah of obstructing negotiations, denying the party was involved in the talks to secure the release of the soldiers.
"The party has infiltrated the Lebanese government and the Lebanese Army. They have lawmakers and soldiers in the Army and use such [people] to pressure the government."
"We don't want anyone but Hezbollah to pay the price ... therefore, we won't agree on [the party] being part of the negotiations or part of the obstacles."
ISIS and Nusra Front, whose fighters were involved in last month’s clashes in Arsal, are holding at least 22 soldiers and policemen captured during the fighting in Arsal. ISIS has so far beheaded two soldiers, while Nusra has released seven as a sign of goodwill.
Last month, the Lebanese Army battled Islamist militants who sought to overrun the northeastern border town.
ISIS and Nusra Front have demanded the release of some 90 Islamist detainees held in Roumieh Prison in exchange for the soldiers. The detainees have been held on terror charges without trial.
Meanwhile, the Syrian mediator who Qatar dispatched to negotiate between the Lebanese government and the militants is expected to arrive in the country Friday, his second visit in two weeks.
The Nusra commander denied reports that Qatar had offered a ransom in exchange for the soldiers, saying the Qatari delegate had not yet gone into details with them.
