Geagea Accuses Hizbullah of Involvement in Abduction of Turkish Pilots
Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea accused on Monday Hizbullah of involvement in the kidnapping of two Turkish pilots over the weekend.
“This is my analysis and it's not based on confirmed information,” Geagea said in comments published in As Safir newspaper.
He pointed out that the abduction was carried out in a “statelet” controlled by Hizbullah, “which knows all the security details in its areas.”
A Turkish pilot and co-pilot were kidnapped by gunmen on Friday on the airport road.
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.
The relatives of the pilgrims held in Aazaz were quick to deny having any links to the abduction.
The LF leader expressed worrisome over the international classification of Beirut's Rafik Hariri International airport.
He noted that the case of abducted Lebanese pilgrims is rightful, expressing hope that the remaining nine men would be released soon.
However, he said that there are several similar cases.
“If every one acted according to its own will then chaos will reign and the state would fall,” Geagea added.
Eleven pilgrims were kidnapped in Syria's Aleppo region in May 2012 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 in Aazaz.
Their relatives have held Turkey responsible for their ongoing abduction.
They have repeatedly vowed to take action against Turkish interests in Lebanon in order to pressure Ankara to release the captives.
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