LF responds to Obeid accusations

The media relations office of the Lebanese Forces (LF) responded to allegations of kidnapping made by businessman Jack Obeid, member of the Syrian Socialist Nationalist Party on Saturday. The Lebanese Forces described the press conference held on Friday, at the press union headquarters, as a smear campaign that targets the party on the political level.    

The statement issued by the LF stressed that the Internal Security Forces (ISF) arrested and questioned Obeid in Jounieh before releasing him. The statements added that Obeid’s accusations are part of a smear campaign launched by the security forces against the LF. The statement stressed that the Syrian Socialist Nationalist Party is not in a position to speak about respect and citizenship, given that their hands will forever be smeared with the blood of Head of the Lebanese Forces Sheikh Bachir Gemayel.

The statement added that Obeid added another dimension to the issue when he leaked the “misleading” piece of news to Koura region with the intention to cause a fight. The misinformation was to be leveraged to create a conflict that would break out while crowds, coming from Beshare to attend the Jounieh festivals, would pass through Koura.

The Lebanese Forces added that they will file a law suit against Jack Obeid for the criminal acts he has committed. The Lebanese Forces voiced surprise when Obeid recalled the Halba and Hajez Al Barbara massacres, adding that Obeid is insisting on linking between these massacres and the arrest of a citizen in Jounieh to give the issue political dimensions.

During a press conference held on Friday, Obeid said that four gunmen wearing ISF uniforms kidnapped him from a restaurant in Jounieh on the eve of the mass held in commemoration of the LF martyrs. According to Obeid’s account, the gunmen took him to Jounieh’s Grand Serail where he was kept for hours before being released. A receipt for his transfer of custody was prepared saying that Jack Obeid was brought to the Jounieh ISF department by soldier Milad Geagea, a member of Meerab security.