The Lebanese authorities, however, only agreed to release 19 prisoners whom they consider “not dangerous” according to the media report.
A number of soldiers and policemen were abducted by al-Nusra front and Islamic State militants August 2014, following clashes in Lebanon's northeastern Arsal municipality. Four were executed, some were released, and the rest are still held captive.
Islamists have long been negotiating the release of militants held in Lebanon as a condition of freeing Lebanese servicemen.
The al-Nusra Front, also known as Jabhat al-Nusra, was established January 2012 and has been fighting against the Syrian government. The jihadists want to proclaim a caliphate on Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, Israel, and the Palestinian territories.