Days after being kidnapped by Israel, Lebanese citizen handed over to Lebanese Army

SOUTH LEBANON — Citizen Saad Salim al-Houdairi, who was kidnapped by Israel after heading to the village of Rmeish (Bint Jbeil district) earlier this week, has been released on Friday by the Israeli army and is now in custody of the Lebanese Army, according to our correspondent in the south.

Houdairi's wife told our correspondent that he was freed after he was taken to Israel, adding that he was able to contact her briefly, informing her that he is currently undergoing the necessary procedures with the Lebanese Army.

In a video published on Thursday, Houdairi's wife called authorities to intervene urgently to determine the fate of her husband. In the video, she said that Houdairi went to Rmeish as part of his work "after obtaining the necessary permits from the relevant authorities, including the Lebanese Army and UNIFIL forces."

Earlier this week, contact has also been lost with a young man from Qaaqaaiyet al-Jisr (Nabatieh) for several hours. Abbas Mezher Mehdi, who worked as a delivery driver, had travelled to the al-Sawan area to deliver an order before entering the village of Zawtar Gharbieh.

In late June, seven people, of Lebanese and Syrian nationalities, were freed after being kidnapped the previous day by the Israeli army in Ain Arab (Marjayoun), in southern Lebanon. Earlier the same month, member of the municipal council of Kfar Shuba and a municipal employee were abducted by Israeli forces while operating a water pump outside the village

Throughout nearly three years of conflict in south Lebanon, Israeli forces have repeatedly kidnapped Lebanese residents, including local officials, in border villages, including during the 15-month cease-fire that lasted from November 2024 to March 2026. Some detainees were released the same day, while others remain in Israeli custody.

Rmeish is one of the few Christian areas still populated in the border area where the Israeli army has unilaterally established an occupied so-called “buffer zone," which includes over 6o villages.

Reporting contributed by our regional correspondent, Muntasser Abdallah.