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‘Drugs Emperor’ Arrested in Beirut

Logo of Lebanon’s Internal Security Forces (ISF)
Logo of Lebanon’s Internal Security Forces (ISF)
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‘Drugs Emperor’ Arrested in Beirut

Logo of Lebanon’s Internal Security Forces (ISF)
Logo of Lebanon’s Internal Security Forces (ISF)

Lebanese security forces arrested on Wednesday a “drug emperor” who is the kingpin of the most dangerous drug-trafficking networks in Beirut and Mount Lebanon.
 
In a statement, the Internal Security Forces (ISF) announced the arrest of the suspected leader of a drug dealing gang, who was identified as Lebanese national Aa.A., born in 1978 and wanted on 72 drug related charges.
 
The new operation comes within the framework of a campaign launched by the security forces last year, in Beirut and the southern suburbs in particular, to pursue wanted persons and mainly drug traffickers, after the aggravation of this phenomenon and the increasing number of drug users in various areas of the country.
 
The statement noted that the man was arrested on Jan. 4 during a raid by the ISF Information Branch on his residence in the Bekaa area of Hrabta.
 
The suspect has admitted to leading a drug trafficking network in Beirut and Mount Lebanon, under the pseudonym Youssef. He also admitted to selling drugs to a large number of users, according to the ISF statement.
 
The operation comes few days after the arrest of a person named Maher Mohammed Tleiss, in the Bekaa area of Brital. The man is wanted by the Interpol on charges of forming a car-stealing gang, kidnapping and producing counterfeit money, attacking members of the Army, as well as on suspicion of arms and drug trafficking.
 
“As a result of monitoring and follow-up, a force from the Directorate of Intelligence raided the home of Maher Mohamad Tleiss and arrested him in his hometown of Brital, in the Bekaa,” a statement from the Lebanese Armed Forces said.

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Italy Plans to Return Ambassador to Syria to Reflect New Diplomatic Developments, Minister Says

Italy's Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani speaks while meeting with members of the G7, on July 11, 2024, during the NATO summit in Washington. (AP)
Italy's Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani speaks while meeting with members of the G7, on July 11, 2024, during the NATO summit in Washington. (AP)
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Italy Plans to Return Ambassador to Syria to Reflect New Diplomatic Developments, Minister Says

Italy's Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani speaks while meeting with members of the G7, on July 11, 2024, during the NATO summit in Washington. (AP)
Italy's Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani speaks while meeting with members of the G7, on July 11, 2024, during the NATO summit in Washington. (AP)

Italy plans to send an ambassador back to Syria after a decade-long absence, the country’s foreign minister said, in a diplomatic move that could spark divisions among European Union allies.

Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani, speaking in front of relevant parliamentary committees Thursday, announced Rome’s intention to re-establish diplomatic ties with Syria to prevent Russia from monopolizing diplomatic efforts in the Middle Eastern country.

Moscow is considered a key supporter of Syrian President Bashar Assad, who has remained in power despite widespread Western isolation and civilian casualties since the start of Syria’s civil war in March 2011.

Peaceful protests against the Assad government — part of the so-called “Arab Spring” popular uprisings that spread across some of the Middle East — were met by a brutal crackdown, and the uprising quickly spiraled into a full-blown civil war.

The conflict was further complicated by the intervention of foreign forces on all sides and a rising militancy, first by al-Qaida-linked groups and then the ISIS group until its defeat on the battlefield in 2019.

The war, which has killed nearly half a million people and displaced half the country’s pre-war population of 23 million, is now largely frozen, despite ongoing low-level fighting.

The country is effectively carved up into areas controlled by the Damascus-based government of Assad, various opposition groups and Syrian Kurdish forces.

In the early days of the conflict, many Western and Arab countries cut off relations with Syria, including Italy, which has since managed Syria-related diplomacy through its embassy in Beirut.

However, since Assad has regained control over most of the territory, neighboring Arab countries have gradually restored relations, with the most symbolically significant move coming last year when Syria was re-admitted to the Arab League.

Tajani said Thursday the EU’s policy in Syria should be adapted to the “development of the situation,” adding that Italy has received support from Austria, Croatia, Greece, the Czech Republic, Slovenia, Cyprus and Slovakia.

However, the US and allied countries in Europe have largely continued to hold firm in their stance against Assad’s government, due to concerns over human rights violations.