Three of Lebanon’s most wanted drug traffickers were killed on Wednesday in a shootout with army troops in the eastern city of Baalbek, the military said.

In a statement, the Lebanese Army said the shootout had erupted during a pursuit of a vehicle in the Sharawneh neighborhood of Baalbek, carrying the fugitives identified as A.M.Z., known as “Abou Salleh,” A.A.Z., known as “Al-Sultan,” and a third wanted individual also identified by his name initials, F.Z.

A clash erupted between the suspects and soldiers during the chase, resulting in the deaths of all three men. The army described them as among the “most prominent and dangerous” drug traffickers in the country.

The men were wanted not only for large-scale drug operations but also for their involvement in a string of violent crimes, including the killing of army personnel, kidnappings, armed assaults on military posts and patrols, and armed robbery.

The military said the suspects had operated for years across various parts of Lebanon, widely distributing narcotics and contributing to a surge in drug use. Their activities, the statement added, had fueled a rise in crime and addiction.

Previous attempts by the army to apprehend the trio had led to confrontations in which soldiers were injured, according to the statement.

The military also denied widespread rumors that troops had targeted the homes or relatives of the wanted men, or that clashes had erupted between residents and the army during the operation.

الجيش اللبناني ينفذ مداهمات في حي الشراونة – #بعلبك وقد استخدم طائراته المسيّرة لتنفيذ ضربات دقيقة في المنطقة pic.twitter.com/SinXpNUKu7

— kataeb.org (@kataeb_Ar) August 6, 2025