Assassins kill friend of U.S. citizen rescued from Lebanon

Assailants shot dead Antoine Hayek just three days after the U.S. airlifted a jailed Lebanese-American man who belonged to the same militia.

By Associated Press

Unknown assailants shot dead a former member of an Israeli-allied Lebanese militia on Sunday, security officials said. The killing came three days after a jailed Lebanese-American man who belonged to the same militia was released in Beirut and flown to the U.S.

Two Lebanese security officials said Antoine Hayek was killed with several bullets from a pistol equipped with a silencer inside his grocery store in the southern village of Mieh Mieh, near the port city of Sidon. They spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to the media.

According to Lebanese media, Hayek had been a warden at a prison run by the South Lebanon Army militia.

The Lebanese-American man who was flown to the U.S., Amer Fakhoury, had been jailed in Lebanon since September and charged with murder and torture of prisoners at the same SLA-run prison — charges he vehemently denied. A Lebanese judge ordered him released last week, saying more than 10 years had passed since the alleged crimes.

Local media outlets reported that Hayek had been close to Fakhoury.

U.S. officials confirmed Fakhoury was aboard a U.S. Marine V-22 Osprey seen taking off from the U.S. Embassy compound northeast of Beirut on Thursday.

Hassan Nasrallah, the leader of the Hezbollah terror group, called Fakhoury’s release and exit from Lebanon a “blatant violation” of the country’s sovereignty and laws. Lawmakers from Fakhoury’s home state of New Hampshire had called for imposing sanctions on Lebanon to pressure Beirut to release him.

Hayek, a 58-year-old retired policeman, also reportedly worked as a warden at the SLA-run Khiam prison.

Fakhoury’s family in the U.S. and lawyer said that although he was a SLA member, he had no direct contact with inmates and was never involved in any interrogation or torture. Fakhoury became a U.S. citizen last year.

Hundreds of SLA members fled to Israel, including Fakhoury, fearing reprisals if they remained in Lebanon. Others stayed and faced trial, receiving lenient sentences.

Hayek was one of those who stayed in Lebanon and was sentenced to 18 months in jail.

No one claimed responsibility for Hayek’s shooting.

Lebanon and Israel have been officially at war since Israel’s creation in 1948. Lebanon bans its citizens from traveling to Israel or having contact with Israelis.

Amer FakhourySouth Lebanon Army