Two Turkish Airlines pilots have been abducted in Lebanon, near Beirut’s international airport.
The men were snatched while travelling on a busy carrying other crew members and passengers between a hotel and the airport terminal.
A group called Zuwwar al-Imam Rida has admitted the kidnapping, saying they would be freed in exchange for nine Lebanese hostages in Syria, reports the BBC.
The Turkish government has advised its citizens in Lebanon to leave the country if possible and has advised against non-essential travel there.
The incident is believed to be in retaliation of the kidnapping of Lebanese Shia pilgrims in Syria last year.
Turkey supports Syria’s Sunni rebelswhile much of Lebanon’s Shia community supports President Bashar al-Assad.
Turkish media named the kidnapped men as pilot Murat Akpinar and his co-pilot Murat Agca.
