Two U.S. nationals who were confirmed missing in Lebanon on 8 October are currently being detained in Syria

Syrian officials announced on 9 October 2008 that two U.S. nationals who were confirmed missing in Lebanon on 8 October are currently being detained in Syria. The two journalists arrived in Lebanon on 29 September from Jordan and were expected to return following their vacation. They checked out of their Beirut hotel on 30 September and were reportedly planning to visit the northern port city of Tripoli and possibly take a day trip to neighboring Syria. It was not until they failed to return to Jordan on 4 October that they were reported missing. Syrian authorities stated that the two U.S. citizens were arrested after they attempted to illegally cross the Lebanon-Syria border with the help of smugglers and that they would be turned over to the U.S. Embassy in Damascus after "necessary measures" were completed. The U.S. Embassy is currently working to confirm the two U.S. nationals' identities.