Murat Akpinar (R) and his co-pilot Murat Agca (L) were kidnapped in Lebanon Turkey\'s ambassador to Lebanon, Inan Ozyildiz, returned to Beirut on Friday from Istanbul following the abduction of two Turkish Airlines pilots early Friday in Lebanon .
Gunmen kidnapped the two on the airport road, in an apparent bid to secure the release of Lebanese pilgrims held in Syria. The pilgrims disappeared in Syria\'s northern Aleppo province in May 2012 after touring Iranian holy sites, including the shrine of revered Shiite religious figure Imam Ali al-Rida.
Security forces have now been deployed in areas surrounding the airport.
The kidnapping has been condemned by President Michel Sleiman)  who has vowed to \"free and return the two back to their families as soon as possible.\"
The return of the Turkish ambassador coincided with a phone call between Sleiman and his Turkish counterpart Abdullah Gül to discuss the incident. Turkey condemned the pre-dawn abduction and urged its citizens to leave Lebanon as the operation raises renewed fears that Lebanon is being dragged further into the Syrian conflict.
Lebanese sources said four gunmen ambushed a bus, taking only the pilots and leaving seven crew who were flown home later on Friday.
The kidnapping took place just outside the airport in an area abutting neighbourhoods dominated by the Shiite groups Hezbollah and Amal.
A previously unknown group calling itself Zuwwar Imam Ali al-Rida claimed responsibility for the abductions, saying they were carried out to \"secure the release\" of nine Lebanese kidnapped in Syria last year.
\"We announce that captain Murat Akpinar and his co-pilot Murat Agca are our guests until the release of our brothers who were kidnapped in Aazaz (Syria),\" said the group in a statement.
They also said Turkey would be held \"directly responsible\" for the freedom of the Lebanese.
Turkish foreign ministry spokesman Levent Gumurukcu said his country has no link to the disappearance of the Lebanese pilgrims in Syria.
Different parties in the Lebanese government have expressed their anger at the kidnappings, warning that this tactic will \"not lead to the release\" of the Lebanese Shiite citizens kidnapped in Azaz.
Blame has been placed on the Syrian regime for not responding to the demands of the kidnappers.
Lebanon Interior Minister Marwan Charbel has disclosed that \"intensive measures\" are now underway to protect Turkish tourists, and Lebanese security is \"exerting all efforts to find and arrest those behind the kidnappings.\"
Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmed Davutoglu telephoned Lebanon\'s parliament speaker Nabih Berri - head of the Shiite Amal movement - and Prime Minister Najib Mikati over the incident.
Mikati said he \"condemned this act\" and that they are doing everything in their power to identify the kidnappers and to free the pilots.
Nevertheless Turkey urged its citizens to leave Lebanon and warned others against travelling to the Mediterranean country.
\"Given the current situation it is vital that our citizens avoid all travel to Lebanon,\" the foreign ministry said.
\"We suggest that citizens who are still in Lebanon return to Turkey if they can, or if they have to remain, to take all measures to ensure their personal safety and be vigilant.\"
The Syrian conflict, now in its third year, has raised sectarian tensions in Lebanon and contributed to an economic crisis in the country which is hosting more than 600,000 Syrian refugees.
Additional reporting: AFP