BEIRUT, Lebanon: Syrian kidnappers killed a Lebanese local politician belonging to a party opposed to the powerful Iran-backed Hezbollah movement, the Lebanese army said on Monday in a case that has rocked the country.
Pascal Sleiman was local coordinator in the Jbeil (Byblos) area, north of Beirut, for the Christian Lebanese Forces party that opposes Damascus and its ally Hezbollah – which has exchanged cross-border fire with Israel almost daily since Israel began fighting Hamas in Gaza six months ago.
Sleiman’s kidnapping sparked outrage in his neighborhood of Jbeil, where hundreds of supporters blocked roads in the area, according to media reports.
The Lebanese army said in a statement on X: “Following up on the case of Pascal Sleiman, who was kidnapped, the army intelligence directorate was able to arrest most Syrian gang members involved in the kidnapping.”
According to the army investigation report, the kidnapped person was killed by the gang while they were trying to steal his car in the Jbeil area, and later his body was transported to Syria.
The statement added that the Lebanese army is coordinating with Syrian authorities to retrieve Sleiman’s body.
In a televised speech, Hassan Nasrallah, the Hezbollah chief, earlier Monday denied his party was involved in the kidnapping as he accused those blaming the group of stirring sectarian strife.
In a statement, Najib Mikati, the caretaker Prime Minister of Lebanon condemned the killing adding investigations were ongoing to bring the culprits to justice.
“In these difficult circumstances, we call on everyone to exercise self-control, be wise, and not be drawn into rumours and emotions,” Mikati added.
