Protesters Block Jbeil Highway After LF Official’s Abduction

On Monday, the Lebanese army detained two Syrians linked to the abduction of the Lebanese Force’s official from Jbeil, Pascal Sleiman, and is currently searching for a third Syrian suspect.

The military is actively trying to locate and rescue Sleiman. Reports suggest that he is safe, possibly held in Syria or near its border, with an intelligence unit from Akkar working towards his release.

In response to Sleiman’s kidnapping, Lebanese Force supporters have staged protests, including road blockages in Jbeil, and shops in the city remained shut.

While the exact reasons behind the kidnapping remain unclear, some reports indicate that the incident was not politically motivated but rather an attempt to steal Sleiman’s vehicle.

Sleiman’s mobile phone was discovered in Thoum, Batroun, after the kidnapping, and the vehicle used by the kidnappers was found in Tripoli by army intelligence.

The event has drawn condemnation from various political and religious figures in Lebanon. Grand Jaafarite Mufti Sheikh Ahmed Qabalan cautioned against using the incident for political or sectarian gains.

According to the pro-Hezbollah newspaper al-Akhbar, the Lebanese Forces party is advocating for civil peace and refraining from making accusations until the army completes its investigation.

The report also detailed that Sleiman’s car was intercepted by a vehicle with a foreign license plate carrying four armed individuals as he was returning from a funeral. An audio recording captured Sleiman pleading for his life before the communication was abruptly ended.