On Monday, the Internal Security Forces (ISF) announced that they had successfully arrested one of the country’s most dangerous fugitives, in North Lebanon.
The man, A.M., is of Lebanese nationality, was born in 1986, and goes by the nickname “the Kosovar.”
According to the ISF statement, “the Kosovar” — who is usually armed — was “wanted for robbery, throwing grenades at a military patrol, shooting, attempted murder, possession of weapons and ammunition, and others.”
“After a careful surveillance operation, he was spotted by [a patrol] in Halba. When [the patrol] tried to arrest him, he pulled his gun and fired at the patrol. The officers fired back but he threw himself in a nearby bush and disappeared,” reads the ISF statement.
Injured, “the Kosovar” was ultimately arrested by the ISF in coordination with the local gendarmes as he entered a hospital to receive medical treatment.
He confessed to the charges held against him, according to the ISF, and an investigation is being pursued by the judiciary.
Lebanon has long grappled with issues of internal security and law enforcement, a struggle exacerbated by the intricate sociopolitical landscape and the many internal and external pressures facing the country. Amid this environment, the rise of organized crime and an increase in violent acts have made the work of law enforcement agencies all the more challenging.
One name had been making the rounds in Lebanese security circles for a long time: “The Kosovar.” Born in 1986 and of Lebanese nationality, this individual gained notoriety as one of the country’s most dangerous fugitives. His list of alleged crimes was long and troubling—ranging from armed robbery to attempted murder and illegal possession of weapons and ammunition.
