BEIRUT / ANKARA

Fears of more attacks on Turks in Lebanon in the wake of the abduction of two Turkish pilots prompt Ankara to close down offices in the country

Turkey has temporarily closed its cultural center and commercial office in Beirut after the kidnapping of two Turkish Airlines pilots amid the capture of a Lebanese man in connection to the abduction and growing fears of further incidents.

“As a safety measure, the Turkish cultural center and commercial office in Beirut have suspended their activities,” Ambassador İnan Özyıldız said, adding that Turkish Airlines’ offices have been operating from Beirut International Airport instead of from their downtown Beirut facility.

“It is very difficult to say anything at the moment,” a Turkish diplomatic source told the Hürriyet Daily News when asked whether they could provide a date for the reopening of the cultural center and commercial office.

Lebanese soldiers in military trucks were seen deployed Aug.12 in the vicinity of Turkish interests, and authorities have been keeping a close watch over Turkish tourists in Lebanon, Lebanese media reported.