Lebanon frees men after phone code check

Lebanese authorities released two men on Sunday after confirming they entered the country legally. The pair, both from Ramallah, had been detained earlier in the week after their mobile numbers displayed Israeli country codes. Prime Minister Nawaf Salam officially dismissed reports that Mossad operatives had been captured, labeling the circulating claims as fake news.

The detention began when hotel staff and an Uber driver noticed the men using Israeli phone numbers to make a reservation at the Lancaster Eden Bay hotel in Beirut. Those alerts prompted a security investigation. Officials questioned the suspects and determined both had visited Lebanon before and held valid entry documents. Beirut Time, a local outlet, reported that the initial rumor suggested the two were Mossad agents holding Turkish passports.

Salam’s office criticized the spread of the story in a statement. Officials said hostile groups tried to tarnish the Prime Minister’s reputation and mislead the public. The statement described the situation as a case of moral bankruptcy. The government moved to calm public alarm as the news spread across the capital.

A second rumor emerged the day after the detention. Some anti-Israel voices claimed Salam had deported the men rather than keeping them in custody. That version of events sparked anger among local groups who expected a more forceful response to the alleged spy presence.

Lebanese concern over Israeli intelligence activity has grown since September 2024. During that operation, booby-trapped pagers exploded in Lebanon and Syria. The attack killed and wounded thousands of Hezbollah members. The group acknowledged that most casualties were its own fighters, though civilians also sustained severe injuries.

The two men were freed following the review of their travel history. No further details were provided about their departure from the country.