Lebanese army vehicles in Beirut on Aug. 8, 2020. (Credit: AFP)
BEIRUT — Seven soldiers were slightly injured during an army raid on Thursday morning against alleged drug traffickers and murder suspects in the Burj al-Barajneh neighborhood of Beirut's southern suburbs, the army said in a statement.
Shots were fired during the search, slightly injuring seven soldiers and two of the suspects, according to the statement.
An earlier report mentioned that four soldiers were injured.
The army arrested seven suspects during its operation, including a man named H.J., described as one of the "most dangerous" drug traffickers in the southern suburbs.
The army also seized a weapon, two pistols, and a quantity of drugs and ammunition. The seized items were handed over to the authorities, and an investigation was launched with the detainees under the supervision of the competent judiciary.
Lebanese authorities have ramped up efforts in recent months to combat the production and trafficking of illicit drugs, especially Captagon, in response to criticism from the Gulf monarchies.