Syria to Extradite Wanted Man in Army Ambush
Lebanon is in contact with Syria over the extradition of Lebanese detainee Hussein Jaafar, accused of being behind a deadly ambush on an army convoy last month, the Lebanese daily An Nahar reported Sunday.
Four soldiers were killed when their vehicle was raked with bullets and blasted with a grenade in an apparent drugs-related ambush in the Bekaa Valley. A massive man-hunt was launched in search for the perpetrators.
The attack on the army was apparently in revenge for the death of Ali Abbas Jaafar, a drug baron killed by the military in March after refusing to stop at a checkpoint.
Jaafar was wanted on several charges, including drug trafficking and the attempted murder of soldiers and civilians.
Hussein Jaafar and a Syrian companion were first arrested in Turkey on April 28 after entering the country from Syria. Jaafar, who was using a fake Syrian ID, was handed over to the Syrian authorities.
Syria will "respond to Lebanon”s extradition request," as required by two cooperation agreements to combat terrorism and organized crime, An Nahar reported.
"There is great anticipation that Jaafar will (reveal) he received help from a (political) party to facilitate his escape from Lebanon to Syria and then to Turkey," the paper said quoting informed sources.