ISF says it has arrested 30 suspected IS-linked 'terrorists' in last four months

BEIRUT — The Internal Security Forces (ISF) on Wednesday announced it had arrested 30 people during the last four months suspected of belonging to the Islamic State (IS) group.

Caretaker Interior Minister Bassam Mawlawi had revealed on Tuesday, during a press conference following a meeting of the Central Security Council, that the ISF intelligence services had dismantled eight terrorist cells, without giving further details.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, the ISF said it conducted preventive operations between July and October 2022 against networks linked to the Islamic State group, among others, which led to the location and arrest of eight suspected terrorist cells in the Bekaa, Beirut, the North and Mount Lebanon.

Attacks against barracks and places of worship

"These cells were planning terrorist operations against barracks and security establishments, as well as places of worship and assembly. Thirty terrorists were arrested, the majority of whom are Lebanese nationals, others are Palestinians or Syrians, in addition to one Egyptian. They were brought before the competent court," said the ISF statement. The ISF General Directorate did not announce these arrests when they took place "because they knew that this could affect tourism and the summer season," the announcement continued.

Mawlawi on Tuesday also highlighted that the crime rate in Lebanon has not increased this year, despite the many crises facing the country, compared to the figures available for the same period in 2021.

Mawlawi's statements appeared to contradict those of General Security chief Abbas Ibrahim, who in June expressed concern about "social instability" and said it worried him "more than political instability" in the country. The commander-in-chief of the Lebanese Army, Joseph Aoun, also warned last Thursday of possible security incidents during the presidential vacuum, which began on Nov. 1 following the expiry of Michel Aoun's mandate.