Army destroys about 60 dunams of cannabis in Knaisseh, Baalbek
On 10 October 2026 the Lebanese Army said a unit had destroyed about 60 dunams of cannabis, about 6 hectares, in Knaisseh in the Baalbek district and arrested 17 Syrian workers who had no legal papers. Harvesting equipment was seized and the inquiry was passed to the courts.
🇱🇧 Knaisseh, Baalbek · Lebanon
- Arrested
- 17
- Hectares
- 6
The Lebanese Army said on Saturday 10 October 2026 that one of its units had destroyed about 60 dunams of land planted with cannabis in the town of Knaisseh, in the Baalbek district.[1][2] That is about 6 hectares.[1] The same unit arrested 17 Syrian workers who had no legal papers and seized equipment they had for harvesting the crop.[1][2] The seized items were handed over, and an investigation of the people arrested began under the competent judicial authorities.[1][2]
The English communiqué calls the crop hashish as well as cannabis plants.[1] The Arabic communiqué calls it hashish hemp, حشيشة الكيف.[2] Neither text names the workers, gives a weight, or says whether anyone else was sought.[1][2]
The army’s Arabic statement includes four photographs of soldiers cutting plants, a tractor in the field, trucks in the crop, and smoke over cut piles.[2]
Sources
- Lebanese Army Destroys Approximately 60 Dunams of Hashish Cultivation in Al Knayseh – Baalbek and Arrests 17 Workers. Lebanese Army, 10 October 2026. Archived copy.
- الجيش يتلف حوالي 60 دنمًا من حشيشة الكيف المزروعة في بلدة الكنيسة – بعلبك ويوقف 17 عاملًا فيها. Lebanese Army, 10 October 2026. In Arabic. Archived copy.
Open questions the AI reported
- The statement gives no separate date for the destruction. 10 October 2026 is the date of the army communiqué.
- The 17 workers are not named. The statement does not say they were charged with cultivation, only that they lacked legal papers and that an investigation began.
- No weight or value for the crop was published.
- The pin is the village of Knaisseh, not the field.
- News reports found for this communiqué repeat the army statement.
