Lebanon’s General Security Agency carried out on Monday a raid operation in Borj Al-Barajneh area, Beirut’s Southern Suburb (Dahieh), dismantling a terrorist gang, composed of 5 to 7 Syrians, upon suspicions raised by the locals in the town, according to Al-Manar security sources.
The same sources added that the preliminary investigations indicated, upon inspecting the detainees’ mobile phones, a direct link with ISIL and, more dangerously, the Israeli intelligence agency, Mossad.
According to Al-Manar reporter, the investigation is currently focusing on several key points, most notably:
- The reason for the group’s presence in Borj al-Barajneh, and whether it was operating within Lebanese territory or preparing to move into Syria.
- The nature of its contact with Mossad, and whether specific missions or operations were planned in Lebanon or Syria.
- The possibility of coordination between ISIL and Mossad, and whether the planned targets included targeting specific areas, especially in light of the Ashura commemoration, raises questions about the timing of the arrest.
These developments come within a broader security context. Security sources told Al-Manar TV that Lebanese security services are intensifying their preemptive operations to dismantle terrorist networks operating on Lebanese territory. They indicated that Lebanese Army Intelligence had arrested, a few days earlier, one of the most dangerous ISIL leaders in Lebanon, nicknamed “Qasoura.” During the investigation, he admitted to leading a group operating between Baalbek and the South.
The sources explained that the Lebanese-Syrian border, particularly the northern border, represents a security vulnerability used by terrorist groups to infiltrate into Lebanon. This requires security agencies to raise their level of preparedness to prevent any potential attacks.
Lebanese General Security called on citizens not to be drawn into rumors that could cause panic, emphasizing the need for vigilance and caution without exaggeration.
Al-Manar sources also underlined the role of citizens in uncovering the cell, stressing that public vigilance and surveillance significantly helped in monitoring suspicious movements. They called on everyone to act as security eyes during this critical period.
The sources concluded that proving the relationship between the group members and Mossad and their assignment of specific missions, if confirmed, would represent a pivotal security shift in the domestic landscape and would be closely linked to ongoing political developments in Lebanon and the region.
Source: Al-Manar English Website
