Beirut: A week after going missing in Tripoli, the body of Lebanese cleric Sheikh Ahmed Al-Rifai, who frequently criticised Hezbollah and Iran, was discovered. On Saturday at 5:30 p.m., a website in the northern Lebanon town of Qarqaf lamented Al-passing. Rifai's

The religious figure, who belonged to Dar Al-Fatwa, was an Al-Qarqaf, Akkar native and served as the mosque's imam. On Saturday, Lebanese army forces moved into the region to maintain security and avert any retaliatory actions.

Local rumour claimed that a suspect detained in connection with the case had knowledge of where the cleric's body was hidden.

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The previous statement from the prime minister of Lebanon, Najib Mikati, read: "We are currently following up with the competent judicial and security references; New data has emerged and we are following up on it for full disclosure in this case."

According to witnesses, Al-Rifai vanished on Monday after two vehicles blocked his car. He was then compelled by masked men to enter the building of Tripoli's Beirut Arab University from behind.

Security personnel discovered Al-four-wheel Rifai's drive four days after the incident, south of Tripoli, close to Haykel Hospital at the entrance to Koura. The car is thought to have been driven and parked there by kidnappers.

Minutes after the cleric arrived at Tripoli's southern entrance, his phone's signal disappeared. He had earlier offered evening prayers in a mosque in the northern city neighbourhood of Beddaoui.

Security personnel conducted a perimeter search and seized security cameras for examination. Al-Rifai may have been "lured to the kidnapping site," according to a security source.

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According to a close family friend who spoke to Arab News, the cleric was against Hezbollah and the Syrian government and had been active on Twitter, where he denounced the "axis of resistance."

All security forces, including General Security, State Security, and Security Forces, denied detaining the cleric.

Samaranda Nassar, the first investigating judge for Northern Lebanon, took over the case and started her inquiries by looking at his car in Koura.

Security agencies raided Qarqaf on Friday night and detained Yahya Al-sons Rifai's and cousins, according to a close family friend, who speculated that their involvement in the cleric's kidnapping was caused by a political disagreement within the family.

The mufti of Akkar, Sheikh Zaid Zakaria, urged the residents of Qarqaf to "be impervious to the spreading rumours."

There is no "conclusive evidence about Hezbollah's direct involvement in the cleric's disappearance," according to a Dar Al-Fatwa source.

Dar Al-Fatwa assigned Sheikh Khaldoun Oreimat to monitor the situation, and Sheikh Khaldoun Oreimat told Arab News that Dar Al-Fatwa had not gotten in touch with Hezbollah to inquire about its involvement because "it is not its (Dar Al- Fatwa's) job."

That was carried out by the official security forces, who frequently contact pertinent sources of information. The security agencies are treating the file seriously.

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The Grand Mufti of Lebanon, Sheikh Abdel Latif Derian, was praised by Sheikh Zaid Zakaria for his "role, wisdom, and directives to be prudent and wise, not to be impervious to rumours or make accusations arbitrarily, to prevent a strife.

"He insisted that the security investigation be allowed to proceed naturally and stated that summoning or making an arrest is appropriate in the context of a typical investigation.

We must not give those who want to sow discord and strife a platform, he said.