The permanent military court, presided over by Brigadier General Khalil Jaber, sentenced Noah Zaiter and Ali Zaiter (Abu Salla) to death in absentia, and sentenced Mehdi Zaiter (Noah's son) to four years in prison for forming an armed gang led by "Abu Salla," and for shooting at Lebanese Army personnel with the intent to kill, which resulted in the death of Corporal Shamss and injuries to others during an army raid in the Al-Sharawana neighborhood in the northern part of Baalbek city in early June 2022, aimed at drug trafficking suspects. Additionally, Ali Zaiter (Noah's son) received his second acquittal due to insufficient evidence.
Who is Noah Zaiter? Noah Zaiter, wanted by justice, openly admits to hundreds of crimes including growing and trafficking cannabis, claiming that it was not a choice but a necessity imposed by circumstances in his small town in eastern Lebanon. Noah Zaiter, nicknamed the "Robin Hood of Baalbek," is emblematic of his "charitable" acts and assistance to those close to him who are impoverished and downtrodden, as well as his supporters. He has gained widespread notoriety as a controversial figure by blaming the Lebanese state for his illegal actions. Dozens of search and arrest warrants have been issued against him, as well as other absentee sentences, while he remains elusive despite his frequent media appearances. In 2021, the permanent Lebanese military court issued a series of rulings against Noah Zaiter and others, charging them with promoting and trafficking drugs.
