8 killed in drug raid

“An army unit raided the house of Ali Zayd Ismail, wanted on several counts of drug trafficking in the area of Al Hamudiya-Brital,” in the Bekaa Valley, which borders Syria, the army said.

“The unit was shot at... forcing the force’s members to retaliate, which led to the killing of eight gunmen,” it said in a statement. The army said it detained a further 41 people — 16 Lebanese and 25 Syrians — and seized weapons and drugs.

It said Ismail, a notorious figure, was among those killed. In April, the army seized 20 kilogrammes (44 pounds) of Captagon from an abandoned house they said Ismail was using in Brital.