But the plane was forced to wait on the tarmac after the planned transfer was complicated by a suicide bombing, the Guardian reported. The royal family-members are part of a group of 26 Qataris who were taken captive during a bird-hunting trip in Iraq in December 2015. Kata’eb Hezbollah, one of Iran’s main proxy groups in the region, is believed to be behind the kidnapping, according to the Guardian. Omar haj kadour/ AFP/Getty ImagesThe hostages became bargaining chips in a major population transfer, which is expected to see 30,000 Syrians trapped in four besieged towns swapped across battle lines in about 60 days. A senior Iraqi official told the Guardian that the Qatari hostages will likely be held until everyone who wishes to leave the Shia towns of Foua and Kfarya is able to do so.

Source: National Post April 20, 2017 21:45 UTC