The 2025 Lebanese government war on drugs is a series of a large scale campaign and operations, launched by the Lebanese government in 2025, to fight drug production, trafficking, and smuggling networks, specifically those linked to Captagon. The campaign executed by the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF), Internal Security Forces (ISF) and judicial authorities, is directly connected to the initiated reforms of the new elected Lebanese government, and marks one of the most aggressive efforts in the war against drugs in Lebanon, since the early 2000s.
Drugs has been an ongoing problem for Lebanese governments for decades, as the country played a major roll in regional drug production and trafficking, particularly of Captagon and Hashish. Drugs were widely trafficked from Lebanon to markets in the Persian Gulf and Europe. The Beqaa Valley being one of the major locations for production and smuggling routes.[1][2][3][4] Since the early 2000s, as Hezbollah increased its power and involvement using drugs as a funding source, Lebanon has experienced an uprise, also due to events like the Syrian Civil War, and the ongoing economic crisis.[5] From 2024 Lebanon has experience intensified pressure from the Gulf States, Saudi Arabia in particular to increase its fight on drugs.[6][7][8]
Notable operations
The 2025 Lebanese cabinet as well as President Joseph Aoun have stated that one of their main objectives is the war on drugs and trafficking, with Interior Minister Ahmad al-Hajjar listing it anti among the ministry's top ten priorities.[9][6][7] During 2025 several major operations were conducted.
Beqaa Valley raids
In July 2025, it was announced that the Lebanese army while operating in Yammouneh village, dismantled one of the largest Captagon labs in Lebanon.[10] In September 2025 the Lebanese Armed Forces held several raids in the Beqaa Valley in which lead in one occasion to the capture of 64 million Captagon pills and in another occasion to the capture of a smuggling network planning to export 6.5 million Captagon pills and around 720kg of hashish to Saudi Arabia. During the raids drug manufacturing equipment was seized or destroyed.[11][12][13]
Palestinian camps
The Lebanese Army, following month of preparations, conducted several raids on the Palestinian camps, mainly Shatila, targeting drug gangs, arresting 55 people, seizing large amounts of drugs, weapons and ammunition. In one case a dead woman was found murdered within a drug den, at the Shatila camp.[14][15][16][17]
Targeting drug gang leaders
On August, 2025, it was reported that the Lebanese Army killed three of Lebanon's most wanted drug traffickers during an operation in Sharawneh neighborhood, Baalbek.[18][19] In another operation held in August in the Bekaa Valley by Lebanese security forces killed Abu Salleh, a major drug lord, who became very rich and controlled much of the production of a deadly drug called “Sylvia.”[20] Later, On 20, November, the Lebanese army had announced the arrest of Lebanon's most wanted drug lord Noah Zaitar, who is accused of heading a drug network from the Beqaa Valley and linked to the former Syrian regime and Hezbollah.[21][22][23]
Reactions
Local
Most of the Lebanese civilians are supportive of these actions, even though the war on drugs has also deeper political influence. Hezbollah condems drugs but is dependent on them economically and politically.[24][25]
Global
Saudi Arabia - One of Lebanon's greatest critics for its incompetent ability to address drug trafficking in recent years, has expressed that it will increase commercial ties with Lebanon, as its latest actions against drug trafficking are notable.[26]
United States - The US sees this as a positive step that will help stabilize Lebanon, while making militias within the state weaker, especially as the latest state department report views the drug trafficking in the region as a serious threat.[27]
Iraq - According to reports, Iraq claims it assisted Lebanon with information regarding facilities for manufacturing drugs, helping them conduct a targeted operation on the sites.[28]
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Saudi Arabia - One of Lebanon's greatest critics for its incompetent ability to address drug trafficking in recent years, has expressed that it will increase commercial ties with Lebanon, as its latest actions against drug trafficking are notable. [26] 
United States - The US sees this as a positive step that will help stabilize Lebanon, while making militias within the state weaker, especially as the latest state department report views the drug trafficking in the region as a serious threat. [27] 
Iraq - According to reports, Iraq claims it assisted Lebanon with information regarding facilities for manufacturing drugs, helping them conduct a targeted operation on the sites. [28]