Israel alleges it foiled Lebanese backed ‘terror cells’ in the West Bank

BEIRUT — Shin Bet (Israel's Security Agency) "foiled the activity of a terrorist cell operating in the Samaria area," in the West Bank, "which was mobilized by operatives in Lebanon," according to a post on X by the Israeli army's Arabic-language spokesperson Avichay Adraee.

"The cell members were instructed to film a town in the Samaria area and carried out firearms training in preparation for carrying out a sabotage operation," he added.

In October, as part of an operation by the Israel army and the Shin Bet, a man named Muhammad Sidqa, a resident of the village of Anza in Samaria, was arrested and referred for investigation by the Shin Bet "on suspicion of involvement in planned acts of sabotage," Adraee said.

"During the investigation, it was revealed that Sidqa had traveled to Lebanon, where he was recruited by a terrorist operative named Musa Abu Saif, nicknamed 'Jibreel' to carry out activities in Judea and Samaria [towns located in the West Bank and to recruit individuals to form military cells on the ground," Adraee said.

"After returning from Lebanon to Judea and Samaria via Jordan, Sidqa recruited several other individuals to carry out operations, including Muhammad Khalil from Ramallah and Muhammad Brahema from Anza, both of whom were also arrested and investigated by the Shin Bet. Investigations revealed that until his arrest, Sidqa continued communicating with the Lebanese terrorist group via social media and through gaming apps," Adraee said.

"Separately, another cell mobilized by the same Lebanese terrorist group was discovered. Two residents of the village of Talti in Samaria, Diaa al-Din Hamad and Nasser Asida, both in their twenties, were arrested and referred for investigation by the Shin Bet," Adraee said.

During their investigation, it was "revealed that they were recruited by a Lebanese operative named Mujahid, who relied on several other Lebanese operatives known as 'Abu Ahmed' and 'Abu Wahid.' They communicated with the recruits via social media and other platforms. As part of the recruitment process, the recruits conducted firearms training in preparation for a sabotage operation, were instructed to film an Israeli town in Samaria, and arrangements were made to transfer money to them for purchasing weapons."

"Intelligence gathering and investigation revealed that the head of the terrorist group recruiting members of both cells to carry out terrorist operations against the State of Israel is Mujahid Dahsha, a Lebanese resident who maintains ties with Hamas operatives. Indictments have been filed against the five individuals from Judea and Samaria," Adraee concluded.

The occupied West Bank is currently experiencing a severe escalation in violence and a shift toward de facto annexation, with the Israeli security cabinet approving measures to tighten control, expand settlements, and facilitate land seizures. The situation is characterized by intensified military raids, mass detentions, and increased settler attacks.