Communications to neutralize Lebanon from regional escalation

A Lebanese judicial source revealed to Asharq Al-Awsat yesterday that investigations into the circumstances of the arrest of the former Syrian regime officer, Ali Kayali, known as “Miraj Oral,” revealed the participation of 4 Syrians and a Lebanese man in kidnapping him from his apartment in the Mansouriya area in Mount Lebanon, and transporting him to Syria, in a mysterious and complex operation.

Damascus announced, the day before yesterday, that it had arrested Kayali, who is described as the “Butcher of Baniyas,” as a result of accusing him of being responsible for massacres that took place on the Syrian coast in 2013.

The Lebanese source explained that preliminary information indicates that the operation “was carried out by four Syrians and one Lebanese,” stressing that “by tracking the phones of the perpetrators of the operation and tracing the lines used in the vicinity of Kayali’s house, it became clear that they arrested him inside his home in the Mansouriya area, and they took the coastal road from Jounieh, passing through Tripoli, and reaching the Al-Aboudi border crossing in Akkar.”

On Friday, the United States condemned “criminal violence” in the occupied West Bank, without directly referring to the incident of Israeli settlers attacking an American photojournalist.

A State Department official, who preferred to remain anonymous, said: “We condemn the acts of criminal violence committed by any party in the West Bank, and we support conducting appropriate investigations and prosecuting those responsible for them,” adding that the United States is ready to provide “consular support” to the journalist who works for the Washington Post newspaper.

Heidi Levin, an experienced photojournalist, was injured on Friday by Israeli settlers who beat her while she was covering violence targeting Palestinian farmers in the occupied West Bank, according to her personal testimony and the statements of witnesses and doctors.

Levin was covering the olive harvest season near the towns of Turmus Aya and Khirbet Abu Falah.

The American official said: “We are deeply concerned when Americans become victims of violence abroad, and we are ready to provide them with all necessary consular assistance.” He added that the administration of President Donald Trump is conducting “regular dialogue with our partners with the aim of enhancing stability and security in the West Bank.”

One of the first decisions Trump took upon his return to the White House was to lift the sanctions imposed by the Joe Biden administration on Israeli settlers.

Settler attacks increase coinciding with the olive season in the West Bank, which has been occupied by Israel since 1967.

In early October, settlers severely beat Agence France-Presse photographer Jaafar Shtayyeh.

Violence has escalated sharply in the West Bank since the outbreak of war in Gaza in 2023, and settlers launch almost daily attacks against Palestinians.

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot and Armed Forces Minister Alice Ruffaut will visit Lebanon on Saturday and Sunday to discuss “mechanisms for the international presence” there after the end of the mandate of the United Nations Interim Force (UNIFIL), according to what several sources reported.

The French Ministry of Foreign Affairs explained that the aim of the visit is “to avoid the occurrence of a security vacuum that we consider extremely dangerous” after the end of UNIFIL’s mandate, in addition to supporting the implementation of the framework agreement concluded between Lebanon and Israel under the auspices of the United States in June, according to Agence France-Presse.

The agreement stipulates the disarmament of Hezbollah, a gradual Israeli withdrawal from the lands it entered into in southern Lebanon, and the deployment of the Lebanese army starting from “two experimental areas.”

The French Foreign Ministry said: “It is necessary to support this process.” This requires maintaining an international presence to accompany and support the Lebanese Armed Forces and the Internal Security Forces. The next challenge lies in defining the mechanisms for this international presence as of January 1, 2027.”

The Minister of Armed Forces’ circles said that this visit also aims to “renew France’s support for Lebanon’s stability and full sovereignty.”

The two ministers will meet with President Joseph Aoun, Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, Defense Minister Michel Mansi, Army Commander General Rodolphe Heikal, and Speaker of Parliament Nabih Berri, according to the same source.

In June, France and Italy announced their intention to establish a multinational force with the end of UNIFIL’s mandate, with the aim of strengthening “sovereignty in Lebanon.” The European Union also announced, on Monday, the establishment of a mission to train the Lebanese army.

The visit comes a month after a conference was held in Paris on this topic, in the presence of Lebanese President Joseph Aoun, Jordanian King Abdullah, and the commanders of the armies of France, Britain, Italy, Jordan and Lebanon, along with senior American and Saudi officials.

During the visit, the French Foreign Minister intends to confirm Paris’ support for “approving the absolutely necessary economic reforms” that “have begun and must be completed,” according to the ministry.

He also intends to address “the response to the humanitarian emergency, given that more than 1.2 million Lebanese were forced to leave their homes” as a result of the Israeli bombing last spring. The equivalent of 139 million euros, including about 100 tons of medical aid and urgent relief materials, has been provided since 2024.