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Release of UN Peacekeeper’s Killer Stirs Heated Debate in Lebanon

A member of the mine clearance team is pictured behind a UN flag during a tour by France's defense minister of the French contingent's United Nations Interim Forces in Lebanon (UNIFIL) base in the southern Lebanese village of Deir Kifa on November 2, 2023. (AFP)
A member of the mine clearance team is pictured behind a UN flag during a tour by France's defense minister of the French contingent's United Nations Interim Forces in Lebanon (UNIFIL) base in the southern Lebanese village of Deir Kifa on November 2, 2023. (AFP)
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Release of UN Peacekeeper’s Killer Stirs Heated Debate in Lebanon

A member of the mine clearance team is pictured behind a UN flag during a tour by France's defense minister of the French contingent's United Nations Interim Forces in Lebanon (UNIFIL) base in the southern Lebanese village of Deir Kifa on November 2, 2023. (AFP)
A member of the mine clearance team is pictured behind a UN flag during a tour by France's defense minister of the French contingent's United Nations Interim Forces in Lebanon (UNIFIL) base in the southern Lebanese village of Deir Kifa on November 2, 2023. (AFP)

The Lebanese military tribunal’s decision to release on bail on Wednesday the killer of a United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) peacekeeper has stirred debate in the country.

In June, the tribunal charged Mohamad Ayyad and four others with the killing of Pvt. Seán Rooney, 24, of Newtown Cunningham, Ireland, following a half-year probe. Rooney was killed on Dec. 14, 2022. Ayyad was detained in December 2022.

The four others facing charges — Ali Khalifeh, Ali Salman, Hussein Salman, and Mustafa Salman — remain at large. All five are allegedly linked with Hezbollah. Hezbollah has repeatedly denied any role in the killing.

The development comes as UNIFIL monitors ongoing clashes along the border between Hezbollah militants and Israeli troops.

Political and legal circles in Lebanon charged that Hezbollah had pressured the tribunal to release Ayyad.

A prominent source at the court stressed that the decision wasn't politically motivated, explaining that he was released for health reasons and the jail could not meet the expenses for his treatment.

Two Lebanese officials confirmed that Ayyad was released on bail, which one of them said was in an amount of 1.2 billion Lebanese pounds (approximately $13,377).

The official said Ayyad had cancer and his lawyer had provided the necessary medical documents, adding that the trial is still ongoing and that Ayyad would go to jail should he be convicted and sentenced.

The source clarified that the court had previously released other prisoners for similar health and humanitarian reasons because prison authorities cannot put their lives in danger by keeping them detained and deprived of the needed treatment.

UNIFIL spokesperson Andrea Tenenti told Asharq Al-Awsat that the court had informed the peacekeeping force that Ayyad was being released due to his “deteriorating health.”

He will still make a court appearance on December 15.

Tenenti stressed that UNIFIL will continue to demand that Rooney’s killers be brought to justice. The murder, he added, is a crime according to international and Lebanese law.

A source from the opposition expressed concern that Ayyad’s release will have “negative repercussions on the Lebanese state’s credibility in punishing people who assault the UN forces.”

He told Asharq Al-Awsat that the release won’t impact UNIFIL’s mission, but it will be open to various interpretations.

It may give the impression that the state gives cover to anyone who attacks UNIFIL or that it may create justifications to undermine attacks against it, he added.

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Arab World

Türkiye Sees Deal between Syria, Kurdish Forces as ‘Historic Turning Point’

A group of civilians smash a statue of a Syrian Democratic Forces fighter in the city of Tabqa after the Syrian army took control of it, in Tabqa, Syria, January 18, 2026. REUTERS/Karam al-Masri TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY
A group of civilians smash a statue of a Syrian Democratic Forces fighter in the city of Tabqa after the Syrian army took control of it, in Tabqa, Syria, January 18, 2026. REUTERS/Karam al-Masri TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY
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Türkiye Sees Deal between Syria, Kurdish Forces as ‘Historic Turning Point’

A group of civilians smash a statue of a Syrian Democratic Forces fighter in the city of Tabqa after the Syrian army took control of it, in Tabqa, Syria, January 18, 2026. REUTERS/Karam al-Masri TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY
A group of civilians smash a statue of a Syrian Democratic Forces fighter in the city of Tabqa after the Syrian army took control of it, in Tabqa, Syria, January 18, 2026. REUTERS/Karam al-Masri TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY

Türkiye sees an integration deal between Syria's government and Kurdish forces there as an "historic turning point", ahead of which the Turkish intelligence agency played an intensive role to ensure restraint by parties involved, Turkish security sources said on Monday.

Türkiye, a strong supporter of Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa, sees the deal ‌as critical ‌to restoring state authority across ‌Syria ⁠and to ‌its own goal of eliminating terrorism at home, including advancing its long-running efforts toward securing peace with the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), the sources said.

Ankara is the strongest foreign backer of the administration in neighboring Damascus ⁠and had threatened its own military operation against the ‌Syrian Kurdish Democratic Forces (SDF) in the ‍north if the ‍group did not agree to come under ‍central government control, Reuters said.

On Sunday, Syria and the SDF struck a wide-ranging deal to integrate the Kurdish civilian and military authorities, ending days of fighting in which Syrian troops captured territory including key oil fields.

The Turkish security ⁠sources said the fight against ISIS group in Syria would continue uninterrupted despite the agreement.

Türkiye's intelligence agency MIT had been in dialogue with the United States - which mediated the Sunday agreement - and the Syrian government ahead of the deal, the sources said. MIT also maintained intensive contacts to ensure restraint among parties, including protecting civilians and critical infrastructure, in ‌Syria in the run-up to the deal, they added.

Arab World

Syrian Army Deploys in Deir Ezzor Province After Kurdish Withdrawal

A military vehicle of the Syrian army is parked on the highway near Tabqa, after the Syrian army took control of it, Syria, January 19, 2026. (Reuters)
A military vehicle of the Syrian army is parked on the highway near Tabqa, after the Syrian army took control of it, Syria, January 19, 2026. (Reuters)
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Syrian Army Deploys in Deir Ezzor Province After Kurdish Withdrawal

A military vehicle of the Syrian army is parked on the highway near Tabqa, after the Syrian army took control of it, Syria, January 19, 2026. (Reuters)
A military vehicle of the Syrian army is parked on the highway near Tabqa, after the Syrian army took control of it, Syria, January 19, 2026. (Reuters)

Syria's army on Monday deployed its forces in parts of the eastern Deir Ezzor province formerly controlled by Kurdish forces following their withdrawal from the area.

After two days of rapid gains in Kurdish-controlled territory, Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa announced on Sunday a deal with their leader Mazloum Abdi that includes a ceasefire and the integration of the Kurdish administration and forces into the central state.

The government push captured Arab-majority areas that came under Kurdish control during the fight against the ISIS group.

In Deir Ezzor, an AFP correspondent saw dozens of military vehicles heading to the east of the Euphrates river, which once separated Damascus-controlled areas to the west from the US-backed, Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces to the east.

Lines of cars, trucks and motorcycles formed in front of a small bridge leading to the eastern bank.

Some people were also heading there on foot.

"Our joy over liberation is indescribable," Mohammed Khalil, a 50-year-old driver in Deir Ezzor, told AFP.

"We hope things will be better than before. There was... no freedom under the SDF."

Safia Keddo, a 49-year-old teacher, told AFP "the past few years, but today we must turn the page".

"We want children to return to school without fear, and for electricity, water, and bread to be restored. We're not asking for a miracle; we just want stability and a normal life."

The Syrian army said in a statement that it "started the deployment" into the eastern Jazira region "to secure it under the agreement between the Syrian state and the SDF".

The agreement calls for the immediate handover of the provinces of the Arab-majority Raqqa and Deir Ezzor provinces.

The SDF had announced on Sunday that it was withdrawing from areas under its control in the eastern Deir Ezzor countryside, including the Al-Omar and Tanak oil fields.

The SDF had taken control of part of Deir Ezzor after defeating the ISIS group with the support of an international coalition led by the United States.

Arab World

Qassem's Threat of Civil War Widely Condemned in Lebanon

Hezbollah's then deputy leader Sheikh Naim Qassem speaks during an interview with The Associated Press in Beirut's southern suburbs, Lebanon, July 2, 2024. (AP)
Hezbollah's then deputy leader Sheikh Naim Qassem speaks during an interview with The Associated Press in Beirut's southern suburbs, Lebanon, July 2, 2024. (AP)
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Qassem's Threat of Civil War Widely Condemned in Lebanon

Hezbollah's then deputy leader Sheikh Naim Qassem speaks during an interview with The Associated Press in Beirut's southern suburbs, Lebanon, July 2, 2024. (AP)
Hezbollah's then deputy leader Sheikh Naim Qassem speaks during an interview with The Associated Press in Beirut's southern suburbs, Lebanon, July 2, 2024. (AP)

Hezbollah Secretary-General Sheikh Naim Qassem's continued refusal to lay down his party's weapons in defiance of the state have sparked outrage in Lebanon.

In a televised address on Saturday, Qassem declared that Hezbollah "will not surrender", accusing Foreign Minister Youssef Raggi of "undermining civil peace and inciting strife." He also called on the government to replace the minister.

Ministerial sources close to the presidency told Asharq Al-Awsat that some of Qassem's remarks were viewed as a response to President Joseph Aoun's recent statements in which he indirectly called on the Iran-backed party to "return to reason and the state and hand over its weapons that have become a burden on its community and Lebanon."

The sources told Asharq Al-Awsat that official "decisions were taken to be implemented. Nothing will change the president's convictions."

Qassem escalated his rhetoric to save face in front of Hezbollah supporters, they added, ruling out the possibility that the party would take its objections to the streets.

The process of imposing state monopoly over arms is on the right path, they stressed.

Meanwhile, officials expressed their outrage over Qassem's remarks.

In a post on the X platform, Justice Minister Adel Nassar said: "Those threatening civil war to preserve their weapons must cease giving lectures about patriotism to a minister in government."

Lebanese Forces MP Razi al-Hajj slammed Hezbollah as a "calamity" on Lebanon. In a post on X, he said: "Naim Qassem is working outside the state, manipulating civil peace, inciting strife and standing against the presidency, government and will of the Lebanese people."

"He refuses to hand over Hezbollah's weapons and makes threats of civil war. Day and night he attacks the Lebanese state's official positions and works against them. Hezbollah is Lebanon's real calamity," he remarked.

LF MP Ghayath Yazbeck slammed Qassem for "verbally" and "morally" assaulting LF ministers, "in complete disregard of ethical principles".

He warned that Qassem’s remarks may be a prelude to the assassination of the ministers and "the assassination of the Lebanese state."

"Our ministers represent dignity, sovereignty and the state," he stressed. Indirectly addressing Qassem, he said: "Act smart. Your predecessors made these mistakes and ended up in history’s trash bin. Haven’t you learned anything?"

Responding to Qassem, Kataeb MP Nadim Gemayel said: "The foreign minister's stance is based on the humiliating agreement that you signed after the 'support war'. Lebanon officially agreed to the deal that effectively embodies the president's swearing in oath and government's policy statement in terms of imposing state monopoly over arms across the country."

In a post on X, he hoped the president and prime minister would issue a clear stance in support of FM Raggi.

Addressing Qassem, LF MP Elias Hankach said on X: "By continuing to rebel against state decisions and threaten the Lebanese people, you have become an outlaw gang."

"Just as the army imposed state monopoly over arms south of the Litani River, it will soon do so to its north," he said.

MP Waddah Sadek slammed Qassem, saying on X: "He himself does not believe what he is saying... He is living in a parallel world while the state continues to firmly reclaim its institutions regardless of the critics."

"The only thing Qassem got right was that Lebanon has indeed entered a new phase," he noted. Addressing the Hezbollah leader, he added: "Your weapons are a burden and no longer serve a purpose."

"For years, we have listened to your speeches and endured defeats and destruction that you brought onto the country. Yours is just another speech that won't make a difference," he stated.

MP Fuad Makhzoumi expressed his rejection of Qassem's statements, saying he is "detached from reality" and posing a "frank challenge to the state and its institutions."

In a post on X, he wrote: "You are part of the government, so how can you object to decisions you were a partner to? Whoever objects to government decisions must resign, not defy the state from the inside."

He urged Hezbollah to commit to the ceasefire, United Nations Security Council resolution 1701, and hand over its weapons, otherwise face the responsibility of violating state decisions.

"No one is above the law in Lebanon and threats have only led to destruction that the Lebanese people alone have paid the price of," he added.