Two Omani nationals kidnapped in Lebanon’s Bekaa Valley

Unknown gunmen have kidnapped two Omani nationals in Lebanon’s Bakaa Valley shortly after arriving in the country, security sources say.

A Lebanese security official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said on Thursday that “two Omanis were abducted near [the eastern town of] Baalbek this evening.”

According to the official, the Omani nationals had taken a taxi from Beirut airport to the Bekaa Valley when unknown armed men stopped the taxi and maid the pair out of the car, allowing the Syrian driver to go.

The security source added that the driver reported the abductions to the police shortly after the incident, without providing more details.

Recently a spate of kidnapping for ransom has hit Lebanon’s Bekaa region, which is near the Syrian border.

In early October, two German citizens were kidnapped by unidentified gunmen in the eastern region. The gunmen had reportedly demanded a ransom of 6000 euros to release the two men of Lebanese origin.