A US Marine Osprey took off from the US Embassy compound in Awkar near Beirut on Thursday transporting Amer Fakhoury despite a Lebanese military judge appealing the decision of his release.
US President Donald Trump announced the release of Fakhoury, a Lebanese-American, thanking Lebanon’s government on its efforts.
Fakhoury was diagnosed with Stage 4 lymphoma and had been hospitalized in Lebanon. Trump said Fakhoury “will now be able to receive the much needed care and treatment in the United States."
“We’ve been working very hard to get him freed, and he’s finally able to have his entire family at his side,” Trump said.
Lebanese sources confirmed to Asharq Al-Awsat that the US helicopter, which made a five-minute landing at the embassy in Awkar, was on a “special mission” to transport Fakhoury.
The State Department said in a short statement that “Fakhoury, who has been in detention in Lebanon since September, is returning to the United States where he will be reunited with his family and receive urgent medical treatment.”
“His return comes as a relief to those who have followed the case with grave concern. We are relieved to be able to welcome him back home,” it said.
Fakhoury had been accused of torturing prisoners at the Khiam prison run by an Israeli-backed militia in southern Lebanon two-decades ago. He had been imprisoned since September after returning to Lebanon to visit family.
Fakhoury was ordered to be released Monday because more than 10 years had passed since the torture of prisoners. But he was not immediately allowed to leave the country after a Lebanese military judge on Tuesday appealed the decision, asking a military tribunal to strike down the decision to free Fakhoury.
The release of Fakhoury has drawn huge condemnation from Hezbollah, with several parties claiming that it was part of a deal between Lebanon and the US government that would see a freeze in possible sanctions that Washington would impose on non-Shiite pro-Hezbollah personalities.
