Turkish Airlines have confirmed two of its pilots have been kidnapped in Lebanon. Armed men reportedly targeted a bus taking the crew from the airport to a hotel.
It is understood up to 6 gunmen were involved in the kidnapping. It is not known what their motive was.
Lebanese soldiers have been deployed in the area, with two armoured personnel carriers stationed by the roadside where the kidnapping happened.
Speaking to Turkish television, Ankara's ambassador to Beirut Inan Ozyildiz said "the case is being followed closely" and that he was working with "Lebanese forces to free the two pilots".
The Turkish foreign ministry has said via Twitter that "no effort will be spared for the release of the Turkish pilots".
Expressing grief on the incident Mikati and Berri said no effort will be spared for the release of the Turkish pilots 2/2
— Foreign Ministry (@MFATurkey) August 9, 2013
It also commented that Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu had called Lebanese parliament speaker Nabih Berri and prime minister Najib Mikati by phone.
The kidnapping is the latest incident in which the Syrian conflict has spilled over into neighbouring Lebanon.
More than two years of fighting between Syrian rebels and the Assad government has sparked increased sectarian tension in Lebanon.
Shells fired from inside Syria have also hit Lebanon, and Syrian warplanes and helicopters have targeted Lebanese areas near the border.
