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Anakara in talks with Hezbollah to secure release of 2 Turkish pilots

15 August 2013 21:13 (UTC +04:00)

Turkish Ambassador to Lebanon, Inan Ozyildiz, met with the head of Hezbollah's parliamentary bloc, Mohammad Raad, on Wednesday, a Turkish official said, adding the talks, however, did not aim to seek help from Hezbollah, according to the report.

"Hezbollah condemns the kidnapping of the two Turkish pilots and all abductions of civilians," Raad said after the meeting, Lebanese website Naharnet reported on Thursday.

The relations between the Turkish government and Hezbollah has been tense since the militant group participated in clashes against rebels in Syria to support the Assad administration.

Two Turkish pilots were kidnapped by gunmen last Friday near Beirut Rafik Hariri International Airport. A group called Zuwwar Imam Ali al-Reda them claimed responsibility for the abduction, demanding Turkey to put pressure on the Syrian opposition to release nine Lebanese pilgrims who were kidnapped by rebels in Syria's Aleppo last year.

Turkey has been regarded as a key ally of the Syrian opposition.

A delegation of Turkish intelligence officials had talks with Lebanon's interior minister on Tuesday to discuss efforts for the release of the two Turks.