Assad Relatives, Including Duraid al-Assad's Wife and Daughter, Arrested at Beirut Airport Attempting to Flee to Cairo with Fake Passports; Syrian Embassy Suspends Services

Dec 29, 2024, 08:00 AM

Two relatives of Bashar al-Assad, the former Syrian president, were arrested at Beirut Airport while attempting to flee Lebanon using allegedly forged passports. The detainees include the wife and daughter of Duraid al-Assad, a cousin of Bashar al-Assad, who were reportedly planning to travel to Cairo, Egypt. This incident has prompted the Syrian embassy in Lebanon to suspend its consular services until further notice, following instructions from the Syrian Foreign Ministry. The embassy has advised expatriates in Lebanon to monitor its official page for updates regarding the resumption of consular activities. This suspension comes amid heightened scrutiny as Lebanese authorities investigate the issuance of fake passports linked to the Assad family members.