Syrian ISIS commander vows to target Shiites in Lebanon

(AP)- A Sunni militant commander in Syria who has pledged allegiance to the Islamic State group has threatened to “retaliate” against Lebanese Shiites over the arrest of his wife and two children in Lebanon, according to a new militant posting.

Abu Ali al-Shishani also says in a statement released late Thursday that the mediation underway for the release of 20 Lebanese soldiers held captive by ISIS and al-Qaeda-linked militants in Syria will stop until his family is freed.

The arrest of al-Shishani’s family members was announced by authorities in Beirut earlier this week.

Lebanese authorities have also said they hold the wife and child of the Islamic State group’s leader.

The authenticity of al-Shishani’s video posting could not be independently verified but it appeared on websites commonly used by militants.