Lebanese army detains son of Bashar al-Assad’s cousin and a drug baron’s heir

According to an unnamed security source, Lebanese army units intercepted three men in the Bekaa region while they were using drugs. Among those taken into custody were Souleimane Hilal al-Assad, identified as the son of a cousin of former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, and Ali, the son of notorious Lebanese narcotrafficker Nouh Zaïter; a third individual was also detained. All three suspects were handed over to the Ministry of Defence for further interrogation.

The operation comes as Syria and Lebanon attempt to forge a new chapter in their diplomatic relationship after the ouster of Bashar al-Assad at the close of 2024 and the weakening of Hezbollah, his traditional ally. In a separate crackdown, Lebanese security services recently arrested a former Syrian intelligence officer together with several accomplices alleged to have plotted attacks on the new Syrian regime. Beirut has also transferred a former general from the Assad era, accused of murder and torture, to Damascus for prosecution. These moves signal a broader effort by both countries to address security concerns and reshape their bilateral ties.