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Islamic State Group Claims to Behead Second Lebanese Troop


The mother of Abbas Medlej, a missing Lebanese soldier who was kidnapped by Islamic State militants, shouts slogans during a demonstration to demand action to secure the captive's release, in front the Lebanese government building, in downtown Beirut, Sep
The mother of Abbas Medlej, a missing Lebanese soldier who was kidnapped by Islamic State militants, shouts slogans during a demonstration to demand action to secure the captive's release, in front the Lebanese government building, in downtown Beirut, Sep

Islamic State militants say they have beheaded a second Lebanese soldier after his failed attempt to escape captivity.

The terrorist group published images of the murder of a man it identifies as Abbas Medlej on social media Saturday.

Abbas Medlej, a Shi'ite Muslim, was among soldiers and police officers the Islamic State and other extremist groups kidnapped during a cross-border incursion from Syria.

The Lebanese army could not immediately confirm that Medlej was killed.

Last week, Islamic State militants beheaded another Lebanese soldier — Ali Sayyed, who is a Sunni Muslim. The group is demanding the release of Islamic militants held in a Lebanese prison.

In the past two weeks, Islamic State has released footage of the beheadings of American journalists James Foley and Steven Sotloff, saying they were in retaliation for U.S. air strikes on their positions in Iraq. The group is also threatening to kill a British captive.

On Friday, U.S. President Barack Obama said he is confident the U.S. and its allies will defeat Islamic State fighters.

On the sidelines of the NATO summit he was attending, senior U.S. diplomatic and defense officials headed a gathering of 10 countries expected to be the core anti-Islamic State coalition, including Britain, France, Germany and non-NATO member Australia.

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