Tensions Soar in Bekaa after Slain Soldier's Father Kills 'Abou Taqiyeh' Nephew

The body of Hussein Mohammed al-Hujeiri, who was kidnapped Tuesday, was found in a cemetery in the eastern city of Baalbek, the National News Agency reported.

Unknown assailants kidnapped al-Hujeiri Tuesday morning from the city of Baalbek and took him to an unknown destination, NNA said.

The father of slain soldier Mohammed Hamieh later told al-Jadeed television that he was behind the murder in an act of revenge for his son.

“I will not rest until I have 'Abou Taqiyeh's' head,” he vowed.

“I am abiding by the law and my son's blood will not go to waste,” he declared.

Hujeiri's corpse was found on Hamieh's gravestone in the Tarayya cemetery north of Baalbek.

Hussein is the nephew of fugitive Islamist cleric Mustafa al-Hujeiri, who is also known as "Abou Taqiyeh".

Tension spiked in the region soon after the news of the kidnapping and murder broke out and armed men were seen deployed in Arsal.

The army took precautionary measures and deployed in the area to control the situation.

It carried out raids and searched houses in Baalbek and arrested Hussein Tleis on suspicion of involvement in the murder.

Arsal's newly-elected municipal chief Bassel al-Hujeiri condemned the incident, saying it is a crime “in every meaning of the word.”

He urged for restraint and calm and for allowing the security forces to perform their duties.

He denied the emergence of armed gunmen in the town, saying that residents condemned the murder.

Civil Defense teams transported Hussein al-Hujeiri's body from Tarayya to his family in Arsal.

In October 2014, an indictment and arrest warrant were issued against "Abou Taqiyeh" on charges of belonging to the al-Qaida-linked al-Nusra Front with the aim of carrying out terrorist acts.

Hamieh was executed by al-Nusra Front in 2014.

He was among troops who were abducted during deadly clashes in early August 2014 between the army and Nusra and Islamic State gunmen in and around Arsal.

Nineteen troops were killed in the fighting as 35 soldiers and policemen were taken hostage. The Front later released seven security personnel, who were in its custody, while the IS executed two troops.

Late in 2015, 19 soldiers were released, while nine are still captivated.

D.A.

M.T.