Sources: Lebanese-French Businessman Freed but Grounded

Takieddine, seen in this file picture taken in 2016, fled to Beirut in June - AFP
Takieddine, seen in this file picture taken in 2016, fled to Beirut in June - AFP
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Sources: Lebanese-French Businessman Freed but Grounded

Takieddine, seen in this file picture taken in 2016, fled to Beirut in June - AFP
Takieddine, seen in this file picture taken in 2016, fled to Beirut in June - AFP

Lebanon on Monday released a Lebanese-French businessman who has been on the run from French authorities since June, but banned him from travel pending investigation, a Lebanese judicial source said, AFP reported.

Lebanese security forces detained Ziad Takieddine last week at the request of Interpol.

Prosecutor Ghassan Oueidat on Monday freed the 70-year-old under judicial supervision after "determining his place of residence, confiscating his passports and banning him from leaving Lebanese territory," the source told AFP.

Takieddine had fled to Beirut in June, when a French court condemned him to five years in jail in a case involving millions of euros in kickbacks from arms sales.

Lebanon would soon request France provide it with Takieddine's legal file so it can review charges against him, the judicial source said.

If the charges were found to be justified, he could be tried in Lebanon as a Lebanese citizen, the source added.

A French judicial source told AFP he was sceptical of the possibility of extradition to France.

"France and Lebanon have not concluded an extradition agreement and Lebanon does not extradite its nationals. The proceedings could very quickly end there," the source said.

Takieddine was also once the main accuser in an inquiry into suspected Libyan financing of former French president Nicolas Sarkozy's 2007 election campaign.

The businessman was investigated in late 2016 after he told the media he had delivered millions of euros in cash from Libyan dictator Moamer Kadhafi.

Sarkozy caught a break last month when Takieddine suddenly retracted his claim.

A judicial source in France denied Takieddine's latest arrest was linked to the Sarkozy affair, declining to provide further details.

Takieddine spent two weeks in jail in Lebanon until November 10 as part of a disagreement with his former lawyer Hani Mourad, then was released.

A Lebanese legal source who asked to remain anonymous said Takieddine was being pursued in a number of financial cases in Lebanon, including on charges of slander, fraud and forgery.



Lebanon Extends Suspension of Flights from Iran

Passengers departing from Lebanon walk with their luggage to the airport due to a protest by supporters of Hezbollah in front of the entrance to Rafik Hariri International Airport in Beirut, Lebanon, 15 February 2025. (EPA)
Passengers departing from Lebanon walk with their luggage to the airport due to a protest by supporters of Hezbollah in front of the entrance to Rafik Hariri International Airport in Beirut, Lebanon, 15 February 2025. (EPA)
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Lebanon Extends Suspension of Flights from Iran

Passengers departing from Lebanon walk with their luggage to the airport due to a protest by supporters of Hezbollah in front of the entrance to Rafik Hariri International Airport in Beirut, Lebanon, 15 February 2025. (EPA)
Passengers departing from Lebanon walk with their luggage to the airport due to a protest by supporters of Hezbollah in front of the entrance to Rafik Hariri International Airport in Beirut, Lebanon, 15 February 2025. (EPA)

Lebanon extended the suspension of flights to and from Iran and directed security agencies to ensure access to the country’s only airport.

Hezbollah leader Sheikh Naim Qassem said Sunday that Israel threatened to strike if an Iranian plane landed at Beirut airport and criticized the Lebanese government for banning last week's Iranian commercial flight from Beirut. The Israeli military has accused Iran of smuggling cash to Hezbollah via commercial flights.

Travelers stuck in Tehran are still unable to return, and Lebanon's foreign minister has been tasked to ensure the safe return of Lebanese nationals, according to a statement following a Cabinet meeting with President Joseph Aoun.

Hezbollah supporters have protested and blocked roads outside the Beirut airport in recent days. The outgoing deputy commander of the United Nations Interim Forces in Lebanon (UNIFIL) was injured Friday when protesters attacked a convoy taking peacekeepers to the airport.

Hezbollah has attempted to distance itself from the incident. Qassem said Hezbollah was “against the attack on UNIFIL” but also criticized the Lebanese army for tear gassing protesters who gathered “peacefully” on Saturday.