Suleiman Hilal al-Assad arrested by Lebanese Army in Bekaa

The Lebanese Army has arrested Suleiman Hilal al-Assad, a relative of former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, in the Bekaa region of eastern Lebanon. According to security sources, the arrest occurred during a raid on a drug warehouse where al-Assad and Ali Zaiter, the son of Lebanese drug trafficker Noah Zaiter, were allegedly using drugs.

The detainees have been transferred to the Lebanese Ministry of Defense for investigation. This incident follows a period of shifting dynamics between Syria and Lebanon following the fall of the Assad regime in late 2024 and the declining influence of Hezbollah.

Suleiman al-Assad’s arrest has drawn significant attention due to his family connections and his past in Syria. He was previously sentenced to 20 years in prison in 2016 following a dispute in Latakia that resulted in the death of Brigadier General Hassan al-Sheikh. Syrian authorities have reportedly requested his extradition to face charges related to murder and drug trafficking.