Lebanon investigates abduction of former Syrian militia commander taken to Damascus

Lebanon's public prosecution has opened an investigation into how Ali Kayali, a former Syrian militia commander also known as Mihrac Ural, was taken from the mountain town of Mansouriyeh, where he had been living, and transferred to Syria, the Associated Press reported.

Syria's intelligence department said it detained Kayali and accused him of responsibility for the 2013 killings in the coastal town of Baniyas, in which hundreds of people died. Damascus later said the arrest was coordinated with Lebanese authorities, a claim Beirut is examining.

Investigators have asked army and police intelligence to analyse phone records and are checking whether a widely shared photo of Kayali in handcuffs was taken at the Syrian embassy near Beirut.

Whatever a suspect is accused of, Lebanon's sovereignty and its own courts must decide on any transfer. We will follow the investigation.