(BEIRUT, LEBANON) — The five Lebanese hostages released by the Nusra Front were reunited with their families on Sunday morning, as concerns grew over 
the fate of the remaining soldiers and policemen being held by Syrian militants.
Soldiers Ibrahim Shaaban, Ahmad Ghieh, and Wael Darwish met with their families in Arsal, according to the National News Agency.
All three soldiers were reportedly turned over to Sheikh Mustaphan al-Hujeiri by the Nusra Front Saturday evening. ISF member Saleh al-Baradei and soldier Mohammad al-Qaderi were also released by Nusra Front.
The five appeared on LBC TV Sunday morning, thanking Hujeiri for his efforts to secure their release and expressing gratitude over their safe arrival to Arsal. One of the freed hostages said that they were treated well by their captors and never assaulted or abused.
Hujeiri said Shiite hostages captured by Nusra were in “a more difficult position” than the rest of the hostages, hinting that the militant group had set high conditions for their release.
Earlier Sunday, the Nusra Front warned Hezbollah over the lives of the Shiite hostages.
With the release of the five, all Sunnis, Nusra Front and ISIS are still holding at least 24 soldiers and policemen taken captive during battles with the Lebanese Army at the beginning of August in Arsal.
The Lebanese army soldiers and security service members taken captive by the Nusra Front appeared in a video last week released by the group. The captives, who were kidnapped in the Lebanese town of Arsal near the Syrian border in early August, seem to be in good health.