Lebanese Security Forces Secure Beirut Medicine Warehouse After Attempted Block by Armed Men

Updated 17 sec ago

October 16, 2026 23:06

London: Lebanese security forces secured a warehouse storing unfit medicines in Beirut’s Galerie Semaan district on Friday, after a group of armed men attempted to block the operation. The Internal Security Forces said young men on motorcycles gathered to prevent officers from the Central Criminal Investigations Division from entering the facility.

The raid was carried out under a judicial order issued by Public Prosecutor Ahmad Rami Al‑Hajj, following a referral from Health Minister Rakan Nassereddine. The operation’s purpose was to confiscate medicines deemed unsuitable for use and to seal the premises with red wax, a standard legal procedure in Lebanon.

Local media, including broadcaster Al‑Jadeed and Annahar newspaper, reported that dozens of armed individuals identified themselves as Hezbollah supporters and surrounded the officers, demanding the withdrawal of their commander. As the crowd grew to several hundred, the patrol commander contacted Al‑Hajj, who instructed him to request reinforcements from the army and the Internal Security Forces. Troops arrived, and the armed men subsequently withdrew.

Hezbollah later issued a statement denying any connection to the warehouse or its contents. The group said the raid occurred without following agreed procedures between the organization and security authorities, noting that the patrol entered a security‑sensitive area without adhering to protocols designed for Beirut’s southern suburbs amid ongoing Israeli threats.

Hezbollah added that contacts were made with relevant authorities and legal officials, and once the circumstances were clarified, the patrol proceeded to execute the judicial order. The situation had returned to normal by the time Lebanese army units arrived, the group said.

Following the operation, the Internal Security Forces sealed the facility with red wax and opened an investigation under judicial supervision. The sealing procedure is an official legal and administrative measure used by law enforcement, health ministries, and the judiciary to shut down sites pending investigation.

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