Lebanese PM calls Mossad capture claims fake after detaining two Ramallah men
Officials confirmed two Palestinians were held for using Israeli phone codes during a Beirut hotel booking.
By Benjamin Mahmoud ·
Lebanese officials dismissed reports on Sunday that two Israeli Mossad agents had been captured, labeling the narrative as fake news. Prime Minister Nawaf Salam moved to quiet public concern after security forces detained two men from Ramallah. The pair was held after their mobile numbers were identified as carrying Israeli country codes.
Salam’s office accused rival factions of exploiting the incident. The statement described the rumors as a cheap attempt to tarnish the Prime Minister’s reputation and mislead the public. It noted that security forces had questioned the detainees and verified that both entered Lebanon through legal channels. Officials confirmed the men had visited the country previously.
The incident began when the two Palestinians used Israeli phone numbers to reserve rooms at the Lancaster Eden Bay hotel in Beirut. An Uber driver and hotel staff reportedly notified authorities about the unusual booking details. This alert triggered a review of the guests' identities and led to their temporary detention.
A separate rumor emerged the following day, claiming Salam had deported the men rather than holding them. The story generated immediate anger among anti-Israel voices in Lebanon. Beirut Time reported that the initial claims suggested the detainees were Mossad operatives traveling on Turkish passports.
Public sensitivity toward Israeli intelligence operations in Lebanon has intensified since September 2024. During that period, thousands of booby-trapped pagers exploded across Lebanon and Syria. Hezbollah stated that most of the dead and wounded were members of its ranks. Civilians also sustained life-altering injuries in the blast.
Source: The Jerusalem Post
