Zahle Rescue: Kuwaiti Freed as Three Suspects Are Arrested

Lebanese security units successfully located and recovered a Kuwaiti national who had been abducted earlier this month, detaining three people connected to the kidnapping and confiscating the vehicle used in the abduction.

Officials said the Directorate of Intelligence led the operation in Saadnayel, Zahle, in eastern Lebanon, following several days of discreet surveillance and methodical tracking. The Kuwaiti victim, taken on November 1, was found unharmed and escorted to safety.

During the arrests, one suspect opened fire at intelligence officers, prompting a controlled response from security forces. Authorities stressed that although shots were exchanged there were no reported injuries. The detainees — two Lebanese citizens and one Syrian national — and the recovered car have been transferred to judicial authorities for further processing.

The case underlines Lebanon’s stepped-up efforts to tackle organized crime and to protect foreign visitors and residents. Investigators are working to establish whether the three are linked to a broader kidnapping network.

Observers note this episode mirrors a regional pattern where swift intervention and coordinated intelligence work have often been decisive in preventing high-profile abductions and safeguarding communities.