Gunmen from the Ezzeddine family appeared on the streets of the northeastern border town of Arsal in the wake of a series of kidnappings in the area over the past few days, reported the National News Agency on Wednesday.

It said that gunmen abducted three Syrian youths from the Syrian town of Qara in response to the kidnapping of Hussein Seifeddine on Tuesday.

Seifeddine was kidnapped from a shop owned by members of the Ezzeddine family, explained the agency.

Mediators have since intervened to release the Syrians in exchange for Seifeddine, who is reportedly being held for a ransom of $30,000.

Earlier, two residents of Arsal were released few hours after they were kidnapped in retaliation to the abduction of a resident from the town's square.

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