The Lebanese army on Sunday announced a ceasefire in its offensive against Daesh to allow for negotiations over the release of nine soldiers kidnapped by the militant group three years ago.

The ceasefire went into effect at 7 AM, Al Arabiya news channel reported.

Since last week, Lebanon's army has been waging an offensive on its side of the border against Daesh pocket near the town of Ras Baalbek in the northeast.

In recent years, some attacks in Lebanon have been linked to Daesh, which controls territory in the shrinking enclave on the common border and neighboring Syria.