A military statement said that troops were "pursuing a car carrying the wanted individuals" in Al-Sharawneh, in Baalbek district, describing the three suspects as "among the most prominent and dangerous drug dealers".

During the chase, "a clash broke out" resulting in the deaths of the wanted individuals, it said.

The three were "also wanted for the murder of soldiers, kidnappings, shooting at army posts and patrols, and armed robberies," the statement added.

Unrest and clashes between rival clans are common in Baalbek, where the Iran-backed armed group Hezbollah holds sway.

The army often conducts raids to apprehend people suspected of drug trafficking, theft, kidnapping and other crimes.

Past raids had failed to arrest the three men killed on Wednesday and left several soldiers injured, the army said.