After Iraq ex-MP’s killing, Lebanon asks Syria to extradite suspects | News
Iraq Offers Assistance in Investigation of Lebanese Killing
Published on Nov. 13, 2026
Lebanese authorities have requested the extradition of two Syrian nationals suspected in the killing of former Iraqi Member of Parliament Ahmed al-Alwani, found dead in a Beirut apartment earlier this week.
A judicial source reported to Agence France-Presse (AFP) that initial investigations suggest al-Alwani was strangled. However, the identities of the assailants and the motives behind the crime remain unclear.
Al-Alwani, a prominent figure from Ramadi in Iraq’s Sunni heartland, was known for his outspoken criticism of Iranian influence in Iraq. He had previously served over a decade in prison after he was sentenced to death on terrorism charges.
The Lebanese Public Prosecutor’s office has formally requested that Syrian authorities detain and transfer two suspects linked to al-Alwani’s murder. The source indicated that while the suspects’ identities are still being investigated, a Lebanese national has been arrested and is undergoing interrogation.
In an unrelated matter, the Information Branch of Lebanon’s Internal Security Forces is currently investigating five members of the Hezbollah group, arrested in the Batroun highlands in northern Lebanon, as reported by the public prosecutor’s media office.
Judge Ahmed Rami al-Hajj, Lebanon’s top prosecutor, is personally overseeing the al-Alwani investigation, which is being conducted by the Internal Security Forces.
Potential Motives Under Investigation
While the inquiry continues, early reports suggest that financial motives may be involved in al-Alwani’s killing. Lebanese media indicated that his body was discovered on Tuesday evening in the Tariq al-Jdideh neighborhood of Beirut.
According to Lieutenant General Saad Maan, head of the Iraqi Security Media Cell, al-Alwani arrived in Beirut on November 5 from Erbil airport. After checking into a hotel, he left less than an hour later, claiming he was departing with friends. Hotel staff reported that his companions spoke with a Syrian accent.
Al-Anwani was last in contact with family members in Iraq, making two phone calls after leaving the hotel in a white Range Rover.
Background on Al-Alwani
Iraq’s President Nizar Amedi has called for a thorough investigation following his meeting with Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam in Turkiye on Wednesday. Al-Alwani was recognized for his role as a Sunni politician who represented Anbar province in the Iraqi parliament. He became a prominent figure during the 2012-2013 protests against the Shiite-led government of Nouri al-Maliki.
After being arrested during a security operation in December 2013, during which several individuals, including his brother, were killed, al-Alwani was sentenced to death on terrorism charges in 2014. He was released in April 2025 under Iraq’s General Amnesty Law after spending more than ten years in prison.
Iraq’s Ambassador to Lebanon, Mohammed Reda al-Husseini, stated that the Iraqi embassy is closely monitoring the case and is awaiting a comprehensive report from Lebanese security agencies to clarify the circumstances surrounding the crime.
