The town of Mazraat Yachouh in Lebanon's Metn district was rocked by a tragic and horrifying crime on Monday, as a local man was found murdered at his fuel station. Emile Hadifa was found dead under disturbing circumstances, and suspicion quickly turned toward the workers at the station, who had been employed there for some time.

Hadifa, born in 1969 and unmarried, had been missing since Monday afternoon, and his family, unable to reach him, grew concerned. Customers of the station, noticing the unusual closure, also became worried and alerted the authorities. By dusk, the Internal Security Forces arrived at the scene, securing the area and forcing entry after breaking the locks of the station. It was then that they discovered Hadifa's body in the restroom, bound and showing clear signs of torture before his death.

Lebanon Debate website cited sources close to the investigation as saying the Syrian workers employed at the station are the main suspects in the crime. These workers had been watching Hadifa for some time, learning of his daily earnings and where he kept the money. On the afternoon of the murder, they locked the doors of the station, dragged Hadifa inside, and tied his hands and feet with adhesive tape. His mouth was also sealed with tape, and the suspects began torturing him. The reasons behind the brutal attack remain unclear, though there are speculations it may have been either an act of revenge or an attempt to force Hadifa to reveal the combination to the station’s safe.

The workers, after killing Hadifa, reportedly stole a significant sum of money before sealing the station’s doors to make it appear closed. This was likely an attempt to delay the discovery of the crime. Hadifa ultimately died from suffocation caused by the tape over his mouth and nose. The perpetrators, believing they had gained enough time, are suspected to have fled Lebanon shortly after the murder, as reports suggest they have already left the country.

فيديو لجريمة مزرعة يشوع... pic.twitter.com/oAse3E5Ktg

— kataeb.org (@kataeb_Ar) January 28, 2025