The arrest of Samir Zeinoun (Zaynoun)
Given Samir Zeinoun’s position as Commander of the Northern Front, he was in contact
with many figures in the Lebanese Forces (LF) other than its leader Samir Geagea. Some
of these figures are Ghassan Touma the head of the Lebanese Forces Intelligence
Branch, Ghassan Mnassa the head of the Espionage Division of the Lebanese Forces
and George Tahan who was in charge of the Lebanese Forces Jail located in the “Sleep
Comfort” Disctrict.
One evening George Tahan was sleeping at Samir Zeinoun’s house when battle plans
and maps of the front were stolen. These maps and battle plans would end up
in the hands of George Tahan's superior Ghassan Touma.
Ghassan Touma would later claim
to have intercepted these maps and presented them to Samir Geagea and accused Samir
Zeinoun of being a spy for the former head of the Lebanese Forces Elie Hobieka (who was overthrown
by Geagea).
This would later be the basis for the arrest of Samir
Zeinoun.
On the 27th of October 1987, George Zeinoun (Samir's younger brother and also a
member of the Lebanese Forces) was arrested without being charged by the LF and
held at the Adonis Intelligence Base in Jounieh; word was sent to Samir Zienoun
about the arrest.
On the 29th of October 1987, Samir came to inquire about his brother,
he too was arrested and placed blindfolded in same cell; he cried as he heard the
screams of his brother George being beaten and tortured.
On the 1st of November 1987 another brother Tony Zeinoun (who was also a member
of the Lebanese Forces) went to the office of the Lebanese Forces Leader Samir Geagea
to inquire about his brothers and he too was arrested and placed in the same jail.