One of the Lebanese army soldiers freed by militants of the so-called ’Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant’ (ISIL) on Saturday revealed that soldier Ali a-Sayyed

One of the Lebanese army soldiers freed by terrorist militants of the so-called 'Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant' (ISIL) on Saturday revealed that soldier Ali a-Sayyed, who was allegedly beheaded by the gunmen occupying eastern town of Arsal, is in fact alive, various media outlets reported on Sunday.

Ibrahim Shaaban sad that he was informed by al-Nusra Front that Sayyed “was not beheaded, but he is still alive.”

He made the revelation upon his return to his family in the northern region of Akkar.

Meanwhile, another freed soldier said Ahmed Ghiyeh said that all the captives are “alive and well.”

Four soldiers and a security forces member were released by militants on Saturday after being kidnapped earlier in August in Arsal northeastern border town following clashes between the army and extremists in the area.

Conflicting reports emerged on Saturday over the validity of images showing Sayyed being beheaded by an alleged ISIL militant calling himself Abu Musaab Hafid al-Baghdadi.

Security sources questioned, in comments published in the pan-Arab daily al-Hayat on Saturday, the validity of the pictures, estimating that the beheaded man is not soldier Ali al-Sayyed.

On Thursday, Baghdadi posted pictures on his Twitter account that show him cutting off the head of a blindfolded man with a medium beard.

He identified the supposed victim as “Ali al-Sayyed, an apostate soldier belonging to the army of the cross (Lebanese army).”