Caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati condemned the murder of the Lebanese Forces Jbeil Coordinator, Pascal Sleiman, qualifying it as “a criminal act.”
The PM emphasized that “investigations will persist in uncovering the full circumstances behind the kidnapping, as well as those involved in the assassination of Sleiman, to bring them to justice.”
Mikati offered his condolences to Sleiman’s family and the LF party and called on everyone “to exercise restraint and wisdom and not to be drawn into rumors and emotions.”
In parallel, LF officials told the al-Markaziya news agency that “the killing of Pascal Sleiman is a political crime, and the matter will be pursued.”
The party affirmed that it “will not remain silent about this crime, which is unrelated to a ransom and is not a private matter, but a political matter.”
Sleiman’s tragic passing solicited the Minister of Interior and Municipalities, Bassam Mawlawi, to hold an extraordinary session among the Central Internal Security Council on Tuesday to discuss the security situation.
The head of the Kataeb party, Samy Gemayel, called on the LF leader, Samir Geagea, assuring him of his support and constant coordination for the next steps.
In his turn, MP Tony Frangieh strongly condemned this “criminal act” on X, calling on the security services “to pursue the investigation and severely punish those involved”.
MP Simon Abi Ramia denounced “the disintegration of the state and the anarchy affecting the country, particularly as a result of the Syrian displacement”. In this context, he called for “the language of reason and the logic of responsibility”. “All eyes are on the army and security services to inform us of the truth about motivations so that we are not caught up in malicious analysis and drawn into undesirable actions,” his X account read.
The same is true of the Progressive Socialist Party (PSP), which has also called for “vigilance regarding the danger of dragging the country into an unfortunate situation if uncalculated reactions are unleashed against Syrian refugees”. “The language of reason, right and justice remains the best way to spare the country from discord”, reads the statement issued by the party’s press office.
For its part, the municipality of Mayfouq-Kattara called on the Lebanese Army to reveal all the circumstances of the crime to the public, as well as all those involved, including Syrian and Lebanese gangs.
It also requested an immediate deployment of security forces in the Mount Lebanon Governorate, particularly in the regions of Metn, Jbeil, Keserwan, and Batroun.
The municipality also called for severe and dissuasive measures to be undertaken against offenders and outlaws of Lebanese and Syrian nationality.
Pascal Sleiman was kidnapped on Sunday in the village of Hakel, in the district of Jbeil.
According to the Army Intelligence Directorate, the interrogation revealed that the kidnapped man was killed while the gang attempted to steal his car in Jbeil, and his body was transported to Syria.
The Army Command is currently coordinating with Syrian authorities to repatriate the body, and investigations are ongoing under the supervision of the Public Prosecution.
