By Le Figaro with AFP
Published on 05/29/2023 at 20:51
This content is not accessible to all.
A museum in Lebanon. JOSEPH EID / AFP
A Saudi national has been kidnapped in Beirut, Lebanese Interior Minister Bassam Mawlawi announced on Monday, saying the incident “impacted” Lebanon’s relations with Saudi Arabia. “Since yesterday (Sunday) we have been following the issue of the kidnapping of a Saudi citizen in Beirut with the intelligence services of the Internal Security Forces (ISF),” the minister said on his Twitter account.
This content is not accessible to all.
“What happened affects Lebanon’s relations with its brothers and the perpetrators will be severely punished,” he added. Bassam Mawlawi said he was in close contact with Saudi Ambassador to Lebanon Walid Boukhari, without giving further details on the date or circumstances of the kidnapping. According to the Saudi broadcaster al-Ikhbariya, the kidnappers demanded a ransom.
This content is not accessible to all.
” ALSO READ – Lebanon Suffers Saudi Arabia’s Wrath
Although not unprecedented, kidnappings of Arab and foreign nationals have been relatively rare in Lebanon in recent years. The last similar incident occurred in July 2022, when a Saudi man was kidnapped upon arrival at Beirut airport. In April 2022, the Saudi ambassador returned to Beirut, just over five months after he was recalled by Riyadh following a serious diplomatic crisis between Lebanon and several Gulf monarchies, largely due to the growing influence of pro-Iranian Hezbollah.