Lebanon Arrests Suspect in Maronite Priest Murder
Patriarch al-Rai called for a firm probe as authorities investigate the killing; the motive remains unclear.
Lebanese security forces on Friday, October 30, 2026, arrested a suspect in the killing of Fr. Samir Dhou, pastor of the parishes of Hsoun, Farhat, and Ain al-Delbeh in the Maronite eparchy of Jbeil.
The Internal Security Forces said the investigation continues under the supervision of the competent judiciary. The suspect is identified as Arkan al-Naddaf, a Syrian national born in 2004.
Arrest After Olive-Harvest Hire
Fr. Dhou’s body was found on Thursday, October 29, at his summer house in Ain Jrine, hours after contact with him was lost on the afternoon of Wednesday, October 28. Suspicion initially fell on a Syrian worker the priest had hired for the olive harvest. Widespread searches by the security forces and army intelligence led to the arrest.
Unconfirmed accounts circulating in Lebanon hold that the victim’s mobile phone and keys were found in the suspect’s possession and that he confessed during preliminary questioning. No official motive has been stated.
Patriarchs Condemn the Crime
Maronite Patriarch Bechara Boutros al-Rai condemned “this heinous crime that struck a priest who devoted his life to serving God and the Church.” He urged security and judicial authorities to pursue the investigation “with all seriousness and firmness” to uncover the circumstances, reveal the truth, and bring those responsible to justice, “for the sake of human dignity and the vindication of right.”
Syriac Catholic Patriarch of Antioch Youssef III Younan also denounced “the heinous crime that claimed the life of Father Samir Dhou” and prayed for the repose of his soul.
No religious motive has been established. The arrest marks the first public identification of a suspect as Lebanese authorities press the case of a pastor killed while serving his mountain parishes.