Security Forces clarifies truth behind alleged passport photo leak
10/21/2025 7:33:00 PM
The General Directorate of the Internal Security Forces – Public Relations Department issued the following statement:
In recent days, social media platforms have circulated reports claiming that photos of the passports belonging to a diplomatic delegation from the Syrian Arab Republic, which arrived in Lebanon on September 17, 2025, had been leaked.
Following an investigation conducted by the Central Investigation Unit within the Embassy Security Division, we found out htat on the mentioned date, as the delegation arrived at the Masnaa border crossing, a patrol from the Syrian Embassy Protection and Escort Group was facilitating the diplomats’ entry into Lebanese territory. During this process, one of the members photographed the delegation’s documents in the presence of embassy staff and sent the images to a colleague in the patrol to expedite an administrative procedure. These photos were later found to have been published on social media.
The investigation revealed that the second officer had forwarded the documents to the former commander of the Embassy Protection and Escort Group, who had since been reassigned to another security unit. That former commander, in turn, sent them to a civilian, after which the images spread online.
The former commander of the Syrian Embassy Protection and Escort Group has been arrested, while the two officers and the civilian were released pending investigation on residency bonds, as per the judiciary’s instructions. Strict disciplinary measures have also been taken against the involved officers.
In recent days, social media platforms have circulated reports claiming that photos of the passports belonging to a diplomatic delegation from the Syrian Arab Republic, which arrived in Lebanon on September 17, 2025, had been leaked.
Following an investigation conducted by the Central Investigation Unit within the Embassy Security Division, we found out htat on the mentioned date, as the delegation arrived at the Masnaa border crossing, a patrol from the Syrian Embassy Protection and Escort Group was facilitating the diplomats’ entry into Lebanese territory. During this process, one of the members photographed the delegation’s documents in the presence of embassy staff and sent the images to a colleague in the patrol to expedite an administrative procedure. These photos were later found to have been published on social media.
The investigation revealed that the second officer had forwarded the documents to the former commander of the Embassy Protection and Escort Group, who had since been reassigned to another security unit. That former commander, in turn, sent them to a civilian, after which the images spread online.
The former commander of the Syrian Embassy Protection and Escort Group has been arrested, while the two officers and the civilian were released pending investigation on residency bonds, as per the judiciary’s instructions. Strict disciplinary measures have also been taken against the involved officers.