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Speculation is mounting following Monday’s murder of Pascal Sleiman, the coordinator of the Lebanese Forces (LF) for the Jbeil region, while the investigation is still ongoing.
As political and religious authorities advocate for calm and restraint to prevent sliding into insecurity, the imperative to understand the motives driving Pascal Sleiman’s abductors, who allegedly killed him during an attempted car theft in Al-Kherbeh, then transported his body to Syria and abandoned the abduction vehicle in Tripoli, is growing increasingly urgent. What do we know about this case?
Based on the confessions of the nine Syrian detainees, their alleged intention was to steal Pascal Sleiman’s car. “Was it truly worth it?” questions an LF official interviewed by This is Beirut. “The car is anything but luxurious and likely would not have been very profitable for those attempting to steal it,” he added, before indicating, “Considering the number of individuals involved in what I doubt was a genuine theft attempt, given the abandonment of the car used in the abduction (in Tripoli, Editor’s Note) and the driver being taken to Syria, the detainees’ account seems dubious.”
He continued, “It is mind-boggling to see so many individuals involved in the theft of an ordinary car, especially considering the owner’s inability to physically resist such a large group of abductors in an area far from deserted and unmonitored.”
The detainees’ statement contradicts this final assertion, suggesting that the LF coordinator attempted to resist the armed individuals who compelled him to exit his vehicle. Allegedly, he received an initial blow to the head, followed by additional strikes as he persisted in struggling, ultimately resulting in his demise.
“That’s not true,” claims the LF official outrageously, putting forth the argument revolving around Pascal Sleiman’s pleas as conveyed by his interlocutor, who was on the phone with him during the incident. As reported by his interlocutor, he besought his murderers, “Don’t kill me! I’m a family man! I have children!” in a desperate attempt to avoid any altercation with them.
As per the detainees’ admissions, the original plan involved transporting Sleiman to a remote area within Lebanese territory and abandoning him there, intending to proceed to Syria in his car. However, unforeseen circumstances led to the loss of the family man’s life during the journey. Consequently, in a state of panic, they felt compelled to take him to Syria, particularly to the Qasr region, where another group awaited them. Moreover, the murderers claimed ignorance regarding their victim’s true identity and/or the nature of their work.
“The possibility remains that those confessing may not be fully aware of the intricacies of the orders they received, perhaps only tasked with stealing the car and, potentially, harming its owner,” estimated the LF official.
The Financial Aspect
“The narrative echoes the tragic fate of Pascal Sleiman’s predecessor, Antoine Dagher, the former Head of Group Ethics & Fraud Risk Management at Byblos Bank, who was stabbed to death on June 4, 2020, because he was dealing with sensitive dossiers,” assert the supporters of this hypothesis, underscoring that the LF coordinator in Jbeil also works for the same banking institution. They presume that Sleiman had access to similarly sensitive information.
Very unlikely, explained an LF official and a colleague who has long worked with him to This is Beirut. “Pascal Sleiman served as the IT manager at Byblos Bank. Considering his position, it is almost inconceivable (though not impossible) that he would have been aware of any problematic information,” they emphasized.
The Political Message
Due to the victim’s affiliation with the LF and the incomplete nature of the available information, some speculate about the possibility of a political motive. However, such interpretations are contingent upon further analysis, as the investigation is ongoing. “Neither Pascal Sleiman’s financial circumstances, the value of his car, nor his professional position could justify a murder of such magnitude,” expressed indignantly the LF official. “We are not pointing fingers at anyone. It is for the investigation to uncover the motives and silent partners in the murder. However, if it does turn out to be politically motivated, it would not surprise us,” he went on to say.
As per his explanations, considering the pro-Iranian group’s current embarrassing position locally, particularly in the wake of the war’s outbreak in Gaza on October 7, the murder of Pascal Sleiman by Syrians would serve as a diversion. Moreover, it would redirect attention from the situation in the south and the fact that Hezbollah has dragged Lebanon into a war it did not want.
A political analyst closely monitoring the case echoes similar sentiments, emphasizing that “Hezbollah is in a predicament, domestically, regionally, and internationally, especially as all political forces attempt to organize themselves in light of the emergence of a new political system in the Middle East.” He analyzed, “It is within this context that Hezbollah’s Secretary-General, Hassan Nasrallah, is believed to be striving to assume two roles: that of border guardian and protector of the Lebanese ‘coexistence’ formula. This is how his Monday speech could have been interpreted, according to the same source, in which he shifted the blame onto the opposing camp, accusing them of attempting to sow discord.”
While awaiting further elements to clarify this matter, several questions torment us: Why Pascal Sleiman? How did the security forces fail to apprehend the abductors before they crossed the border? Why was he killed instead of being abandoned in the streets? And why did the process of handing over his body to the Lebanese authorities take so long?
