Hezbollah Urges Calm After Shiites Abducted The leader of Lebanon's Hezbollah militant group has appealed for calm following the abduction of 12 Lebanese Shiites in Syria. Security officials say Syrian rebels kidnapped the men Tuesday as they returned from a religious pilgrimage. The abductions immediately sparked tensions in Lebanon. Shiites in Beirut's southern section took to the streets and burned tires in protest. In a televised speech, Hezbollah's Sheik Hassan Nasrallah appealed for calm. He warned his followers against carrying out any revenge attacks on Syrians.