Lebanese authorities have arrested a suspect in connection with the murder of Father Samir Daou, a 62-year-old Maronite priest found dead in his home in the Jbeil District.
Key Details of the Case
- The Victim: Father Samir Daou was a Maronite Catholic priest serving as pastor for parishes including Hsoun and Ferhet in Lebanon’s Jbeil (Byblos) District.
- Timeline of Events: Father Daou lost contact on Wednesday afternoon, October 28, 2026, after last being reached by phone around 1:00 p.m. and captured on surveillance footage near Mashan around 2:00 p.m. His body was discovered by family members inside a home he owned in his native village of Ain Jrain.
- The Investigation and Arrest: The Internal Security Forces (ISF) announced the arrest of a suspect identified as Arkan al-Naddaf, a 22-year-old Syrian national from Aleppo who had been hired to help the priest harvest olives.
- Stolen Property: Investigators reported that the priest's car was stolen and tracked following the incident.
- Reactions: Maronite Patriarch Cardinal Bechara Boutros al-Rai and local officials strongly condemned the killing and urged a thorough judicial investigation.
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