Talkalakh victims' families block borders in protest

The families of dead, missing and incarcerated victims of a Syrian ambush in Talkalakh in November staged a sit-in at the Arida border crossing on Sunday morning, to demand the return of those affected by the Syrian crisis. Spokesperson for the victim’s families, Sheikh Mohammed Ibrahim, claimed the purpose of the sit-in was "to recover the bodies of the murdered and recover our prisoners from the Syrian regime's prisons." "We had previously said we would block off the borders. We did it today,” the spokesman continued. Ibrahim blamed the Lebanese government for allowing “the monster Bashar” to “provoke our children,” meanwhile demanding the expulsion of the country’s Syrian Ambassador. Protestors blocked off an international highway with passenger buses, blocking traffic between Lebanon and Syria. The Lebanese Army and civil forces guarded the area to monitor security developments. Hours before the sit-in began, the families of two missing men, Mohammed al-Refaei and Hasan Surour, released statements distancing themselves from the action, dismissing "disorder, sit-ins and road-blocking." Al-Refaei's family thanked the Lebanese authorities, adding that they were only interested in "actions taken under the umbrella of the Lebanese state." Both families stressed their sons were not linked to any Islamist or militant organisation. Hassan Surour’s mother said: “He lost his way in an unknown area and was imprisoned.” The al-Refaei family also claimed: “He [Mohammed] is studying nursing and was meant to be in Australia to attend his sister’s wedding.” The family also said al-Refaei was not linked to an Islamist or militant organisation, saying "he is still studying nursing and was meant to be in Australia Monday to attend his sister's wedding." The families asked that Ibrahim continue to do his best to retrieve their son.