The International Support Group for Lebanon has condemned the hostage taking of Lebanese troops and policemen by jihadists in the northeastern border town of Arsal and reiterated a pledge to strengthen the Lebanese army to confront terrorists.

Participants in the meeting of the Group that was held in New York on Friday said that “the recent attacks by violent extremist groups in Arsal had highlighted immediate priority needs on the part of both the LAF (Lebanese Armed Forces) and the security forces, including in regard to border control and counter-terrorism.”

The al-Qaida-linked al-Nusra Front has announced that it would not negotiate the release of Lebanese soldiers and police unless the Lebanese authorities resolve the situation in the northeastern border town of Arsal.

The jihadist group, which took the troops and policemen hostage along with Islamic State fighters last month, said on twitter on Friday night: “There is no negotiation on our behalf in the case of the Lebanese soldiers being held captive until things are fully fixed in Arsal.”

Prime Minister Tammam Salam on Friday called for regional and international cooperation in the fight against terrorist groups, urging Lebanon's "brothers and friends" to supply it with the "elements of strength."

"We must douse the flames of the raging blaze and prevent it from spreading," Salam said in a speech before the U.N. General Assembly in New York.

A “Syrian-Syrian deal” that is currently in the making might involve the release of the captive Lebanese troops, a media report said on Friday, as the chief of the Qaida-linked al-Nusra Front in Syria's Qalamun threatened to wage “war” inside Lebanon.

“The negotiations have apparently matured,” LBCI television reported.

Two Lebanese nationals and a Syrian were arrested on Friday on suspicion that they may belong to an extremist group, reported the National News Agency.

It said that Internal Security Forces arrested them as they were strolling in the market of the coastal city of Jbeil north of Beirut.

The army on Friday received a new shipment of ammunition as part of the U.S. military assistance program to the Lebanese Armed Forces, state-run National News Agency reported.

“The army's Logistics Brigade received at the Rafik Hariri International Airport a quantity of ammunition of various types, in the presence of a number of officers and members of the U.S. defense cooperation bureau in Lebanon,” NNA said.

The Progressive Socialist Party of MP Walid Jumblat called on Friday for a prisoner swap to secure the freedom of the soldiers and policemen taken captive by jihadists.

Speaking on behalf of Jumblat, who is currently in Paris Health Minister Abou Faour said: “The Lebanese authorities should adopt a prisoner exchange.”

Kataeb Party leader Amin Gemayel on Friday rejected outright the approval of draft-laws under the slogan of “necessary legislation” at a time when Baabda Palace is vacant, saying the candidates running for the polls should step aside to facilitate the election of a president.

“The most important legislation is the election of a president as soon as possible,” Gemayel said during a press conference he held at the Kataeb Party headquarters in Beirut's Saifi district.

Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea noted on Friday that the state is faced with two options regarding the release of the soldiers and policemen held captive by Islamist militants from Syria.

He said via Twitter: “The army should attempt to free them by force, which requires complete coordination with the international coalition against the Islamic State group.”

Electricite du Liban's board of directors urged the government on Friday to approve the transfer of the firm's belongings from its “occupied” headquarters in Beirut's Mar Mikhael area to another building.

The state-run company hoped that Energy Minister Arthur Nazarian would request the cabinet to approve the transfer of the documents and equipment from the main building to a new location so that EDL could function properly.