Lebanese Hostages’ Families, Moral Injury and the Legacy of the Arsal Kidnappings
This article examines the experiences and long-term consequences of the 2014 Arsal hostage crisis for the families of Lebanese security personnel kidnapped by Jabhat al-Nusra and Islamic State. Drawing on interviews with 30 families across Lebanon, the research applies the concept of ‘Moral Injury’ to explore how state failure, difficult choices and unresolved loss shaped families’ experiences during and after the kidnappings.
Written by Craig Larkin, Rajan Basra, Maya Yamout and Nancy Yamout.
Key takeaways:
- Families experienced the crisis as a profound betrayal by the state. Relatives described being left to negotiate with captors, raise money, arrange visits and campaign for their loved ones’ release, often because they had lost confidence in the Lebanese authorities. For many, this sense of abandonment continued after the crisis, with inadequate recognition, financial compensation and psychological support contributing to feelings of shame, anger and injustice.
- The moral consequences of the crisis have endured long after the hostages were released or killed. Families described guilt over decisions made during the kidnappings, persistent unanswered questions and a sense of being unable to move on. Shame and dishonour, ‘frozen time’ and intergenerational trauma emerged as important aspects of the lasting impact of the crisis.
- Unresolved grievances can have wider consequences for trust, justice and social stability. Many families felt that formal justice had failed to deliver meaningful accountability, with some turning towards demands for revenge or personal retribution. Addressing Moral Injury therefore requires more than clinical treatment: recognition, public acknowledgement and opportunities for families to tell their stories can help rebuild trust and support recovery. A public enquiry or state-led commission into the Arsal kidnappings could provide an important step towards this.
