BEIRUT: Five Iranians kidnapped in Syria in December have been moved to north Lebanon, Iran’s English-language Press TV, quoting a source in north Lebanon, reported Saturday.
The Iranian media outlet described the source as a tribal figure in north Lebanon who spoke on condition of anonymity.
On Dec. 21, Press TV reported that five Iranian technicians working in Syria were kidnapped by unidentified gunmen in the city of Homs.
According to Press TV, two other Iranians, who were trying to obtain information about the missing men, were also kidnapped. Their whereabouts are still unknown.
Syria's state news agency SANA had said that eight engineers "of different nationalities" disappeared after heading by bus to their work at a power plant in Homs province.
In early January, a previously unknown Syrian opposition group claimed responsibility for the kidnapping and warned both Iran and Hezbollah of the consequences of supporting Damascus.
The previously unheard of group, calling itself the "Movement against the Shiite tide in Syria,” made the claim in a fax sent to the Nicosia offices of Agence France Presse.
“We warn Iran and Hezbollah that their members will face the same fate as the five Iranians if they don’t immediately stop providing all forms of support to the criminal regime,” the group said in the fax.