The Ukrainian embassy in Beirut is protecting a dangerous Israeli agent wanted by the Lebanese judiciary on arrest warrants, after he sought refuge there a few days ago. He is involved in planting explosive devices and carrying out assassinations and killings of Lebanese people between 2024 and 2025.

This agent's name is Khaled al-Aida, a Palestinian-Syrian with Ukrainian citizenship, and he is one of the most prominent Mossad agents arrested in recent years. Security investigations proved his involvement in preparing an assassination attempt at Beirut Airport and planning terrorist bombings in Beirut's southern suburbs. He is also a transnational criminal who has carried out previous assassinations and was present in the southern suburbs on the day of Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah's assassination. He was also the lead that led General Security to arrest members of the terrorist cell recruited by Mossad. He was caught red-handed with an explosive device hidden in a motorcycle he intended to park in the southern suburbs for later detonation.

Today, the Ukrainian embassy is trying to secure his departure from Lebanon. It has requested that Lebanese General Security facilitate Aida's travel and grant him a laissez-passer, even though he is wanted by the Lebanese judiciary and must be handed over to the judicial authorities.

Meanwhile, the Americans are exerting direct pressure through the CIA station chief in Beirut, Sherry Baker, with the aim of facilitating his departure from Lebanon or smuggling him out if necessary.

The Lebanese state today faces a true test of its sovereignty. President Joseph Aoun, Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, and the General Security Directorate, specifically Major General Hassan Choucair, are all accountable to the Lebanese people. If they are truly concerned about the interests of Lebanon and the Lebanese people, they must arrest Khaled al-Aida and hand him over to the judiciary. The Lebanese state, in all its branches, knows that Aida is hiding in the embassy, ​​and it will be a disgrace if it does not force the Ukrainian embassy to hand him over or allows him to be smuggled out. For us, this man is implicated in the bloodshed of Lebanese people and plotted to kill others. His value to Lebanon is equivalent to the value of our prisoners held in Israel.

Will General Joseph Aoun, Nawaf Salam, and the security apparatuses under their command succumb to the pressure? And will they inform the Lebanese people in a few days with a flimsy scenario about this agent managing to escape outside the country?

We will not accept being told that he left in a diplomatic vehicle, or through an illegal crossing, or under the protection of the American embassy in Lebanon.

If they are sincere in their talk of establishing a respected state, let them demonstrate sovereignty here. Sovereignty is not measured by slogans, but by preventing infiltration and bringing a murderous agent to justice. The Lebanese authorities must surround and besiege the Ukrainian embassy until this wanted person is handed over, and any leniency or laxity in this matter is considered collusion and conspiracy on their part with the enemy to facilitate the smuggling of their agent. The irony is that the General Security Directorate, whose officers helped thwart the terrorist plot orchestrated by Khaled al-Aida months ago, is the very same agency now being asked to facilitate his departure. And from whom? From the Ukrainian embassy, ​​an institution many countries disregard, but which, in our country, shows us no respect whatsoever.