The Nusra Front - Syria's al-Qaeda branch, fighting the regime of President Bashar al-Assad threatened on Monday that it will execute the Lebanese soldiers held captive by the group.
The group issued the threat in the light of the operation carried out by Lebonon's Internal Security Forces in Roumieh prison, targeting detainees linked to Nusra & ISIS.
"As a result of the deterioration of security in Lebanon, you will hear about surprises regarding the fate of the prisoners with us," the al-Qaeda affiliate in Syria tweeted.
Four soldiers held by the Nusra Front have been killed in detention despite ongoing negotiations with the authorities for their release.
The Lebanese forces reportedly transferred several detainees with Nusra and ISIS links from the notorious Roumieh prison on Monday amid heavy security after an investigation showed that some had exchanged calls with a man who later conducted a suicide bombing in Tripoli, Associated Press reported.
Local televisions showed helicopters hovering above the institution near Beirut, as vehicles and ambulances entered and left. Prisoners reportedly opposed the transfers and cases of rioting was also reported.
A suicide bomber killed nine people in a coffee shop on Saturday. It was part of a series of suicide bombings and raids that have plagued parts of Lebanon, related to the war in neighbouring Syria.
Nusra Front has claimed responsibility for the blast in Tripoli's predominantly Alawite neighbourhood of Jabal Mohsen, saying it was a twin suicide attack.
An Al Araby report said that the suicide attack shows that the Nusra Front is still capable of causing carnage in the country.
