Abductor of Lebanese pilgrims in Syria killed

BEIRUT - Abou Ibrahim, the abductor of a group of Lebanese pilgrims in Syria, has been killed during an attempt to storm a town in Aleppo's countryside, the al-Mayadeen TV reported Monday.

According to the TV station, "Kurdish popular committees killed Abou Ibrahim and four members of his group as they were trying to storm the town of Qastal Jindo in Aleppo's countryside."

Ammar al-Dadikhi, aka Abou Ibrahim, the head of the so-called Northern Storm Brigade, claimed responsibility for kidnapping 11 Lebanese Shiite pilgrims, who were returning home from a pilgrimage in Iran, in Aazaz in May.

One abductee was released in August in a "goodwill" gesture, according to Ibrahim, and another was released in September.

On Saturday, the Northern Storm Brigade said it had captured a Lebanese journalist in Syria's Aleppo.

On the rebels' Facebook page, they said "A coordination committee of the Syrian revolution in Aleppo's Aazaz announced the detention of the journalist, Fidaa Itani, who works for LBCI and other media outlets, accusing his affairs of being inharmonious with the trajectory of the Syrian revolution and rebels."

Itani is now under house arrest for a short period, the group of rebels said in a new statement, pointing out that Itani was not arrested because of his nationality or political affiliation and that he will be asked to leave Syrian territory after a few days.

They pointed out that "reports and videos have not proven yet Itani's involvement with any party that works against the revolution, but his presence as a journalist no longer receives approval in areas controlled by the rebels."

When contacted by LBCI, Ibrahim confirmed that Itani is in the custody of Aazaz rebels, and that he was detained while accompanying a group of fighters in Aleppo.

"Itani was taking photos of a lot of military operations which made us suspicious and therefore we took him to Aazaz," Ibrahim said before.