Tensions between the Lebanese government and Hezbollah have escalated following the Iran-backed terror group's attempt to obstruct an Internal Security Forces operation to inspect a warehouse storing unregulated cancer drugs, and its supporters protested the seizure of explosives allegedly being trafficked into southern Beirut by the group, according to Lebanese media reports and officials.
Armed men affiliated with Hezbollah surrounded a judicial police patrol vehicle in the Galerie Semaan area on the outskirts of Beirut’s southern suburbs after the Internal Security Forces (ISF) arrived to raid warehouses suspected of storing unlicensed cancer medications. The armed men withdrew after the Lebanese military arrived at the scene.
Hezbollah’s political wing subsequently condemned the security forces for carrying out the operation in the area, which it described as outside its Shia stronghold, “without observing the mechanism agreed upon between Hezbollah and the security services.”
According to MTV Lebanon, the ISF had been acting on the orders of Lebanese Attorney-General Ahmad Rami al-Hajj, following a referral from Health Minister Rakan Nasr al-Din, who had insisted that the medications be seized due to the risk of spoilage and their failure to meet health standards.
Former parliamentarian Wahbi Qatisha, a retired Lebanese Army brigadier general, told Al-Hadath that the medications seized during the operation last week were counterfeit Iranian drugs. He alleged that the trafficking operation was overseen by the son of Hezbollah Secretary-General Naim Qassem, a claim repeated by an anonymous source to Al-Hurra.
Reports: Unregulated Iranian, Syrian medications have long entered Lebanon
There have long been reports of unregulated Iranian and Syrian medications entering Lebanon. In September, the Lebanese Health Ministry sent samples of suspected counterfeit cancer drugs to France for testing. In 2021, Al-Arabiya published an exposé on Iranian medications approved by the ministry despite concerns about inadequate testing. At the time of the expose, hospitals reportedly refused to prescribe the Iranian-manufactured drug “Lenoma,” which former Health Minister Hamad Hassan pushed through despite significant opposition. Hassan had been nominated and backed by Hezbollah ahead of his appointment.
Maj. Gen. Ashraf Rifi, a former director of Lebanon’s Internal Security Forces, told Al-Hurra that the raid on Hezbollah’s counterfeit medication warehouse could be a signal that Beirut is changing its approach to dealing with Hezbollah.
The incident comes shortly after the Lebanese military seized at least 500 kg of explosives from Hezbollah-affiliated individuals en route to Beirut. The explosives contained metal balls and shards designed to maximize damage upon detonation. They were reportedly intended for an assassination attempt on Lebanese soil rather than an attack against Israel.
Hezbollah has reportedly continued to demand the release of the two individuals arrested in connection with the shipment and the return of the seized materials.
According to This Is Beirut, armed Hezbollah security patrols have openly roamed the streets of Beirut in what has been interpreted as a rejection of the seizure. However, the Lebanese military reported that army units had implemented security measures in Beirut and the southern suburbs, including deploying motorized and foot patrols and establishing temporary checkpoints “to pursue wanted individuals and those disrupting security.”
Unconfirmed reports of minor clashes between Hezbollah, Lebanese armed forces
There are also unverified reports of minor clashes between Hezbollah-affiliated individuals and members of the Lebanese armed forces, though such reports have not been confirmed by officials.
Lebanon's Grand Jaafari Mufti Sheikh Ahmad Qabalan also issued a statement during his sermon on Friday, insisting that Beirut’s actions against Hezbollah were a threat to Lebanese sovereignty and should be seen as in favor of Israel.
Qabalan said that Beirut’s legitimacy had derived from the legitimacy of the “resistance” and claimed that the security establishment was supporting the "American-Zionist project.”