Former Iraqi legislator found dead in Beirut in suspected assassination

A prominent Iraqi politician, Ahmad Al Alwani, has been discovered dead in his Beirut apartment, with his office declaring the incident an "assassination" and a "treacherous crime." Lebanese top prosecutor has initiated an investigation into the murder of the 57-year-old Sunni politician, whose body was found in the Tariq Al Jdide neighborhood after his family lost contact with him.

Al Alwani arrived in Beirut from Erbil, Iraq, on Thursday. Members of his family reported him missing and alerted the Iraqi embassy, prompting the discovery of his body by police.

Al Alwani, a member of the Albu Alwan tribe, served two terms in Iraq's parliament between 2005 and 2014, representing Anbar province, and chaired its economic committee. He gained national recognition during mass protests in Anbar in 2012 and 2013 against the Shiite-led government, which was accused of sectarian discrimination and marginalizing Iraq's Sunni community.

Al Alwani became a prominent voice in the demonstrations and a central figure in the Ramadi sit-in. However, his political career ended abruptly in December 2013 when security forces raided his home, arrested him, and sparked widespread controversy.

In a statement, Al Alwani's office described his death as a "crime that demands a firm official response and a transparent investigation that reveals who planned it, who carried it out and who else was involved." A Lebanese judicial source told AFP that preliminary findings indicated Al Alwani had been strangled, and a Lebanese national suspected of involvement had been arrested.

Authorities are also searching for two Syrian suspects who remain at large and were reportedly responsible for transporting Al Alwani from the airport to his hotel upon his arrival in Beirut.

Iraq's ambassador to Lebanon, Mohammed Al Husseini, stated that Baghdad is cooperating with Lebanese security authorities to investigate the circumstances of Al Alwani's killing.