Syrian Kidnapped En Route to Baalbek, Army Arrests 2 Fugitives in Bekaa

A Syrian national was kidnapped on Friday evening while he was en route to the Bekaa's city of Baalbek coming from Zahle.

"Four gunmen in a Black Cherokee kidnapped Syrian national Khalil Aslan Areej while he was on his way to Baalbek,” the state-run National News Agency reported.

Areej was coming from the Bekaa region of Hosh al-Omara and he was driving his Skoda car at the time of his abduction, the NNA noted.

"The armed men also stole four of his wife's golden bracelets,” the NNA said, adding that she, the wife, headed to the Baalbek army intelligence's department to report the incident.

Areej's son was in the car with his parent, the NNA noted.

Also in the Bekaa, army intelligence arrested Syrian national Yehia Abdullah Hussein after seizing a quantity of drugs in his possession.

Hussein is close to terror suspect Omar al-Atrash, the NNA pointed out without clarifying whether the latter is the one currently imprisoned on charges of belonging to a terrorist organization, or the one who was was killed several months ago in the border region of Arsal.

Hussein Ali al-Atrash was also arrested on Friday evening in Hosh al-Sayyed Ali area in the Bekaa.

"He hails from Arsal and is accused of trading with stolen motorcycles,” the NNA detailed.

Army and security forces have been implementing a security plan in the Bekaa and other Lebanese regions in the last few months in search for fugitives involved in security-related wrongdoings, drug dealing and other types of crimes.

S.D.B.

Y.R.