High-ranking Lebanese Forces official kidnapped

In a recent development that has sent shockwaves through the Lebanese political landscape, Pascal Sleiman, a key official of the Lebanese Forces party led by Samir Geagea, has reportedly been abducted.

The incident has not only triggered widespread reactions among Lebanese politicians and the public but also sparked significant concern over the state of security and freedom in the country.

Pascal Sleiman, responsible for the Jbeil district within the Lebanese Forces party, lost contact with his associates on Sunday, raising immediate alarms. The disappearance was confirmed by sources close to the party's headquarters in Meerab, prompting a flurry of reactions from various quarters of Lebanese politics and society.

The response to Sleiman's disappearance was swift and marked by a sense of urgency. Samir Geagea, the leader of the Lebanese Forces, made a rare public appearance in Mastita, Jbeil, where hundreds of party supporters had gathered following social media appeals. The crowd's chants of "Hakim! Hakim!"—a nickname for Geagea meaning "Doctor"—underscored the emotional and political gravity of the moment.

Local television footage showed Lebanese Forces supporters blocking roads in Mastita, while the party called for a closure of businesses in Jbeil and surrounding areas as a form of protest against the abduction. This move reflects a broader strategy by the Lebanese Forces and allied parties to demonstrate unity and resistance against threats to public and private freedoms in Lebanon.

The kidnapping has elicited reactions across the political spectrum, with figures like Samy Gemayel, head of the Kataëb party, labeling the incident as "very dangerous" and expressing solidarity with the inhabitants of the region and the Lebanese Forces. 

Protest movement deputies Michel Douaihy and Marc Daou condemned the deteriorating security situation in Lebanon, with Daou emphasizing the importance of resisting sedition, threats, and escalation.

The abduction of Pascal Sleiman raises profound questions about the stability and security of Lebanon, a country already grappling with political, economic, and social challenges. The incident not only highlights the precarious state of public freedoms but also threatens to deepen existing political divides. As political parties and public figures call for unity and resilience, the coming days

The disappearance of Pascal Sleiman is a stark reminder of the volatile security situation in Lebanon and its potential implications for political freedoms and national stability. 

As the Lebanese Forces and their allies mobilize in response, the incident serves as a rallying cry for all who advocate for a more secure, free, and unified Lebanon. 

The resolution of this case will not only have implications for Sleiman and the Lebanese Forces but also for the broader trajectory of Lebanese politics and the ongoing struggle for security and freedom in the country.