Report: Mohammed Saleh Reveals Names of Individuals Linked to Turkish Pilots' Abduction

The Turkish pilots kidnapped in Lebanon on Friday were abducted in a hope to exchange them with the nine Lebanese pilgrims held in Syria's Aazaz region, reported As Safir newspaper on Tuesday.

A widely-informed security source told the daily that Mohammed Saleh, a relative of the pilgrims who was arrested Sunday in connection to the pilots' case, revealed the names of individuals linked to the abduction

He also said that the Turkish pilots were targeted in order to carry out the exchange.

Saleh's relatives denied to As Safir however that their son was linked to the case, saying that he only received messages of congratulations on his telephone when news of the abduction broke out.

Meanwhile, caretaker Interior Minister Marwan Charbel told the daily that Saleh is considered as a witness in the kidnapping and not a participant.

His release from custody is in the hands of the General Prosecution, he added.

In May 2012, eleven Lebanese pilgrims were kidnapped in Syria's Aleppo region as they were making their way back to Lebanon by land from pilgrimage in Iran.

Two of them have since been released, while the rest remain held in Syria's Aazaz region.

Their relatives have repeatedly blamed Turkey for the kidnapping, vowing to take measures against its interests in Lebanon, but they have however denied having links to the Turkish pilots' abduction even though they welcomed it.

They also threatened on Monday to kidnap “any Turkish national on Beirut's streets,” after the Internal Security Forces' Intelligence Bureau failed to release Saleh.

Commenting on the kidnapping of the pilots, Turkish Ambassador to Lebanon Inan Ozyildiz told As Safir that the case is in the hands of Lebanon's security and political authorities.

He added that he is in contact with all security officials, including General Security chief Abbas Ibrahim, to follow up on the case.

He stated that his role as an ambassador is aimed at maintaining good ties between Lebanon and Turkey.

A Turkish pilot and co-pilot were kidnapped by gunmen on Friday.

Six gunmen intercepted a van carrying the Turkish Airlines employees from Rafik Hariri International Airport to a hotel in the Ain Mreisseh seafront at dawn Friday, kidnapping the two pilots - Murat Akpinar and Murat Agca - but leaving the four other crew members behind.

The attack prompted Turkey to issue a travel warning urging its citizens to avoid unnecessary travel to Lebanon and those already present in the country to leave.