Three Lebanese nationals kidnapped in the Iraqi capital Baghdad last week have been freed and were expected to arrive in Beirut later on Sunday, Lebanon’s interior ministry said.

The three men, named as Imad al-Khatib, Nader Hmadeh and George Batrouni, were kidnapped on arrival in Baghdad on October 22.

A statement from the interior ministry said Sunday the men were freed in an operation coordinated between Lebanese and Iraqi authorities.

It said the men had been kidnapped by a “gang”, adding that one kidnapper had been killed in the rescue operation and others arrested. The statement said additional kidnappers were still being pursued, without specifying the suspected motives for the abduction.

Source: AFP