U.S. Embassy Calls for Immediate Release of Lebanese Kidnapped in Syria
The United States condemned on Thursday the abduction of Lebanese men in the Syrian province of Aleppo, saying the abduction of people along sectarian lines is unacceptable.
“We condemn the kidnapping of Lebanese citizens in Aleppo and call for their immediate release,” the U.S. embassy in Lebanon said on its twitter feed.
“The kidnapping of people – particularly targeting along sectarian lines – is unacceptable,” it added.
Around 12 Lebanese Shiites were abducted by armed men in Aleppo on Tuesday as they headed to Lebanon from a pilgrimage to Iran.
The embassy also said that Ambassador Maura Connelly expressed Washington’s appreciation for the efforts of the Internal Security Forces and Lebanese Armed Forces to work together to maintain calm in Lebanon following deadly gunbattles between pro- and anti-Syrian regime gunmen.
The tweet came after State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland urged “all political actors in Lebanon to exercise restraint and respect for Lebanon’s security and to respect the rule of law.”
In another tweet, the embassy reiterated the U.S. commitment to a stable, sovereign, and independent Lebanon.
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