Disappearance of Ahmad Shukr

On 19 December 2025, Ahmad Ali Shukr (Arabic: أحمد علي شكر), a Lebanese former General Security officer, disappeared while en route to a meeting in the Beqaa Valley. His disappearance received wide media coverage, as an official investigations began as he was linked to disappearance of Israeli Air Force navigator Ron Arad in 1986.

Background

Shukr is a retired major of Lebanon’s General Security service. He is from Al-Nabi Shayth in the Beqaa Valley region of Lebanon. He disappeared while was on his way to a real estate meeting. His extended family includes Fuad Shukr, who was a senior member of Hezbollah, and fighters in the Lebanese Civil War and in conflicts with Israel in the 1980s. He was linked to the disappearance of Ron Arad, an Israeli navigator whose aircraft was downed in southern Lebanon in 1986 and who has been missing ever since.[1][2][3]

Disappearance

Shukr was announced missing in mid December, while he was on his way to a real estate meeting in Zahlé in the Beqaa Valley. Contact with him was lost during the afternoon of December 19. Lebanese army sources initially described him as missing, while local officials called the incident a kidnapping.[4]

Investigations and allegations

Lebanon's Internal Security Forces are investigating the disappearance. Early steps included checking security camera footage and phone records after Shukr was reported missing. Some Lebanese sources, quoted by regional media, say Shukr may have been tricked into a secret operation involving two foreigners who came to Lebanon shortly before he disappeared. Investigators reportedly focused on an area near Zahle, where his trail ended.[1][5]

Unnamed sources have claimed Shukr may have been kidnapped by Israeli intelligence because he was believed to have information about the fate of Ron Arad. Israel has not confirmed any involvement, and no official conclusion has been announced.[4][6][7] Later investigations have revealed he was in contact with two unknown individuals, holding Swedish citizenship and Lebanese phones. One of them left the country on the same day.[8]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "Retired General Security officer disappears in Bekaa". L'Orient Today. 2025-12-19. Retrieved 2025-12-25.
  2. ^ Ari, Lior Ben; Ari, Lior Ben (2025-12-23). "37-second phone signal, Mount Hermon route: Lebanese reports detail ex-officer 'abduction'". Ynetglobal. Retrieved 2025-12-25.
  3. ^ December 2025 (2025). "Lebanon investigates disappearance of man linked to Israeli airman's 1986 capture". Naharnet.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  4. ^ a b "Investigations Suggest Israel Kidnapped Lebanese Officer Linked to Ron Arad Case". Sada News Agency. Retrieved 2025-12-25.
  5. ^ Isaacson, Gila (2025-12-23). "Lebanese Ex-Officer Ahmad Shukor Disappears, Allegedly Kidnapped by Isra". JFeed. Retrieved 2025-12-25.
  6. ^ i24NEWS (2025-12-24). "Is the mystery disappearance of Lebanese ex-security officer tied to Ron Arad's fate?". i24NEWS. Retrieved 2025-12-25.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  7. ^ "Report: Israel abducted former officer with information about Ron Arad". israelhayom.com. 2025-12-23. Retrieved 2025-12-25.
  8. ^ "Ahmad Shukr missing for ten days: Mossad, financial motives under investigation". LBCIV7. Retrieved 2026-01-01.
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