Lebanon investigates disappearance of man linked to Israeli airman's 1986 capture

Lebanese authorities are investigating the recent disappearance of a retired security officer whose brother was allegedly involved in the 1986 capture of an Israeli air force navigator, a Lebanese judicial official told AFP.

Airman Ron Arad's plane went down over southern Lebanon during the country's 1975-1990 civil war, and he was believed to have been initially held by Shiite groups.

He is now presumed dead, though his remains were never returned.

The Lebanese judicial official said on condition of anonymity that authorities were looking into the disappearance a week ago of retired General Security officer Ahmad Shukr amid conflicting information about his fate.

Initial investigations indicate Shukr "was lured from his hometown of Nabi Sheet" to a location near the city of Zahle, where he disappeared.

A source close to the family said Shukr is the brother of Hassan Shukr, who "was a fighter in the group that participated in capturing Israeli pilot Ron Arad after his plane was downed on October 16," 1986.

Hassan Shukr was killed in 1988 in a battle between Israeli forces and local fighters, including from Hezbollah, the source close to the family added, requesting anonymity.

The judicial official said information indicated Ahmad Shukr "was lured by two Swedes who arrived in Lebanon two days before his kidnapping, and that one left through Beirut airport the day Shukr disappeared."

Investigators are looking into the possibility that he was killed by Israeli agents or transferred to Israel, the official said, adding that so far no trace has been found of him in Lebanon.

Israel has apprehended suspects in Lebanon before, including an alleged Hezbollah member it said it captured in the country's north in November last year.

Also last year, Lebanese officials said preliminary findings implicated Israel's Mossad spy agency in the killing of an alleged Hamas financier.

Arad has been a cause celebre for decades in Israel, where bringing home lost or captured soldiers is considered a national duty.