October 17, 2026
Agence France-Presse revealed a sharp discrepancy between the Lebanese and Syrian security narratives regarding the circumstances of the arrest of leader Ali Kayali, known as “Miraj Ural,” in Lebanon and his transfer to the Syrian capital, Damascus.
In this context, a Lebanese security source told the agency that the arrest took place “without the knowledge of the Lebanese authorities,” explaining that members of the Syrian intelligence kidnapped Kayali from the Mansouriya area in the vicinity of Beirut, so that he was later transferred to the headquarters of the Syrian embassy before being smuggled directly to Damascus.
In contrast, a Syrian security source gave a different account, confirming to Agence France-Presse that Kayali’s arrest took place on Lebanese territory through “a security operation that took place in coordination with the Lebanese side.”
Separately, the agency announced that the French Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Armed Forces will conduct an official visit to Lebanon next Saturday and Sunday. During their visit, the two ministers are scheduled to meet with senior Lebanese officials, namely: President Joseph Aoun, Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, Speaker of Parliament Nabih Berri, in addition to the Army Commander.
The French delegation’s discussions will focus on “mechanisms of international presence” in Lebanon, coinciding with the approaching end of the mandate of the United Nations Interim Forces in Lebanon (UNIFIL).
