ASSESSMENTS

Turkey and Iran Bargain Over Hostages

Aug 14, 2013 | 10:45 GMT

Turkey and Iran Bargain Over Hostages
Hussein Omar (C), one of 11 Lebanese Shiite hostages captured by Syrian rebels in May 2012 after his release. Nine hostages are still being held by rebels in Syria.

(STR/AFP/GettyImages)

Summary

Turkey has requested Iran's assistance in freeing two Turkish civilian pilots, according to an Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman. The pilots were recently kidnapped in Lebanon by Shiites trying to negotiate the release of nine Shiite Lebanese hostages currently being held by Sunni rebels in Syria. The sectarian complexity overlaying the incident and the circumstances of the kidnapping points to Hezbollah's likely involvement in the operation. Iran will now use Turkey's appeal for help to improve its regional position before it attempts another round of negotiations with the United States.

Iran will try to use Turkey's appeal for help on releasing airline pilots kidnapped in Lebanon to improve its regional position before another round of negotiations with the United States....

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