BEIRUT: The Lebanese fishermen who were kidnapped last week by Syrian forces off the coast of the border village of Arida had been in Syrian territorial waters, An-Nahar reported Friday, citing the results of Syria’s investigation into the matter.
Sources close to the case told the daily newspaper that Syrian authorities had confirmed their initial suspicions that the fishing boat was in Syrian territorial waters. According to Lebanese sources, however, the Syrian naval vessel crossed three kilometers into Lebanon’s territorial waters. Residents of the northern coastal village of Arida, the fishermen's hometown, continue to maintain that the men were within Lebanon’s maritime border when Syrian forces began shooting in their direction.
The incident, which occurred on Jan. 21, began when Syrian naval forces opened fire on a fishing trawler at sea. Aboard were Lebanese nationals Fady Hamad, 37, his brother Khaled Hamad, 33, and their nephew Maher Hamad, 17. Maher was shot in the stomach and killed. His uncles were arrested and taken to Syria, where they claim they were beaten.
The head of Lebanon's Parliamentary Defense, Interior and Municipalities Committee has vowed to investigate the incident, the occurrence of which raised the ire of several lawmakers, who have since demanded the deployment of the Lebanese army on the Lebanese-Syrian border to prevent similar incidents in the future.
Sources also told An-Nahar that it was impossible for anyone to approach the coast without the knowledge of the Lebanese army and that the army was well aware of the circumstances surrounding the incident.
In related news, the secretary-general of the Lebanese-Syrian Higher Council met Friday with Prime Minister Najib Mikati and discussed Syria’s assault on the Lebanese fishermen.
“I informed the prime minister of the efforts made by the general secretariat to resolve the issue of the fishermen and limit the repercussions stemming from the incident. [I also spoke to Mikati] about the investigation carried out by Syria,” Nasri Khoury told reporters at the Grand Serail.
Khoury said he stressed to Mikati the need to control the Lebanese-Syrian border and revive cooperation between the two countries, particularly regarding areas that straddle the border.
“The Syrian side has investigated the matter thoroughly and I think the Lebanese army is aware of information related to the investigation,” Khoury added.