Relative of Bashar al-Assad arrested with weapons and drugs in Lebanon

Relative of Bashar al-Assad detained with weapons and drugs in Lebanon

Lebanese authorities announced that a relative of former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and the son of a prominent drug trafficker have been detained in the north of the country. They are accused of possessing weapons and drugs.

According to two judicial officials who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to brief the media, Suleiman Assad and Ali Zaitar were detained near the city of Baalbek on September 11. Ali Zaitar is the son of Nuh Zaitar, a drug trafficker arrested in 2025. Suleiman Assad is the son of Hilal Assad, a cousin of the former president.

The Assad family's five-decade rule came to an end in December 2024 when rebels seized power. Following this, a number of Syrian officials and Assad's relatives fled to other countries, including Lebanon. Bashar al-Assad and his brother Maher al-Assad are currently living in Russia.

The Lebanese army said in a statement that it had detained three people, including a Syrian citizen who lacked documents proving legal residency in Lebanon.

According to the army, weapons and hashish were found in their possession. Hashish is a drug made from the cannabis plant, which is widely cultivated in northern Lebanon. The army did not disclose their names, but the initials matched Assad and Zaitar. Army officials added that the detainees were interrogated under the supervision of judicial authorities.

He is a cousin of Bashar al-Assad. 46-year-old Wasim Assad was found guilty of atrocities committed during the nearly 14-year civil war.