Bashar al-Assad relative arrested in Lebanon, source says

A Lebanese security source told AFP that Lebanon's army arrested a relative of ousted Syrian ruler Bashar al-Assad and the son of Lebanese drug lord Nouh Zaiter in the eastern Bekaa region on Friday.

The security source said the military arrested three people while they were caught using drugs, including Suleiman Hilal al-Assad, described as the son of Bashar al-Assad's cousin.

The security source said Ali Zaiter, the son of Nouh Zaiter, was also among those arrested. Nouh Zaiter was captured by the army last year.

The security source said the Syrian detainee is a civilian and not a former officer. The three detainees were transferred to Lebanon's defence ministry for questioning.

Syria and Lebanon have been trying to reset relations since Assad was toppled in late 2024 and after the weakening of his Lebanese ally Hezbollah. Earlier this month, Lebanese authorities arrested a former Syrian intelligence officer and several accomplices who allegedly planned attacks against the forces of Syria's new government. Beirut last month extradited to Damascus a former Assad-era general accused of crimes including murder and torture.