Lebanon's interior minister has raised suspicions that the recent abduction and killing of a Hezbollah-linked Lebanese currency exchanger, Mohammad Srour, was orchestrated by Israeli operatives. The mysterious incident, resembling a scene from an international spy thriller, took place in a villa on the outskirts of Beit Meri, a serene mountain resort town.
The crime scene revealed pistols with silencers and gloves submerged in water and chemicals to erase fingerprints, indicating a meticulously planned operation. Despite cash left scattered around Srour's body, ruling out robbery as a motive, Interior Minister Bassam Mawlawi pointed fingers at Mossad, the Israeli spy agency, for the sophisticated execution.
While concrete evidence is yet to be presented, Lebanese security agencies suspect Mossad's involvement, especially given Srour's history of money transfers from Iran through Hezbollah to Hamas. Srour, sanctioned by the U.S., was found dead with multiple bullet wounds and handcuffed in the rented villa.
The investigation, still ongoing, aims to uncover the truth behind Srour's killing and bring the perpetrators to justice. The incident has sparked tensions in the region, with U.S. and Israeli officials intensifying efforts to curb fund transfers to Hamas, following recent conflicts in Gaza.
Lebanese authorities are scrutinizing the identities of individuals entering and leaving the country around the time of the crime. The rented villa in Beit Meri, where Srour's body was discovered, was leased using fake Lebanese identity cards, adding a layer of complexity to the case.
Hezbollah, to which Srour had ties, has refrained from commenting on the incident, citing the ongoing investigation. The family of the deceased has called for swift action to apprehend those responsible for the heinous act.
As the investigation unfolds, the Lebanese community mourns Srour's tragic death, with funeral processions echoing anti-American and anti-Israeli sentiments. The incident underscores the delicate geopolitical landscape in the region, marked by covert operations and escalating tensions.
