Lebanese dentist stabbed to death by soldier angered over fiancee's treatment

A Lebanese army sergeant stabbed a dentist to death in Lebanon's eastern Beqaa governorate on Tuesday, in an attack triggered by the military man's apparent anger over his fiancee's pain from a dental procedure days earlier.

Dr Elie Jasser, a father-of-one in his thirties, was at his dental practice in the village of Ablah when Salim Fahed stormed the clinic and attacked the dentist with a knife.

The dentist tried to evade Fahed but was stabbed at least eight times in his lungs, waist, kidneys, and on his hand, a family member was quoted by MTV Lebanon as saying.

Some of the wounds inflicted were as deep as 15 centimetres, relatives said.

Fahed stabbed Jasser because his fiancee complained of pain after an appointment with the dentist, local media reported, citing security service investigation findings.

Disturbing images shared to social media purportedly showed the bloodied floor and dentist's chair at Jasser's dental practice.

لحظة خروج قاتل الطبيب #إيلي_جاسر من العيادة... pic.twitter.com/VCGWZDhCLT

— Zahle dar salem (@zahledarsalem) February 1, 2022

CCTV footage shared online appeared to show Fahed calmly walking away from the clinic after the killing.

The murder has sparked grief across Lebanon, with social media users and public figures sharing tributes for the young dentist.

Hundreds joined Jasser's funeral street procession. Lebanon's Association of Dentists also staged a protest in Bekaa governorate to denounce the killing.

Lebanon's Doctors Syndicate also denounced the killing on Thursday and urged authorities to arrest the attacker.

Lebanese authorities have yet to confirm whether Fahad has been apprehended.