Lebanese Interior Minister announces dismantling of 8 terrorist cells

The Lebanese Minister of Interior, Bassam Mawlawi, announced that the Information Division of the Internal Security Forces (ISF) managed throughout the year 2022 to apprehend 8 terrorist cells in Lebanon.

Bassam Mawlawi described the security situation in the country as “much better,"  stressing that “during the period of [presidential and governmental] vacuum, our ministry and all the country’s security apparatuses will exert all the necessary efforts to maintain security and order because it is the request of all the Lebanese citizens alike."

He stressed that "despite all the difficult circumstances a year and two months ago, there was no problem between the security forces and the citizens."

Mawlawi added, "We held parliamentary elections without any security problems, and there is serious security control over the issue of the displaced persons' camps (refugee camps), and all agencies are carrying out their duties despite the economic difficulties and the weak capabilities of the security forces, but they are making an exceptional effort to maintain security, and the crime rate has not increased."

Furthermore, "We are continuing to work with the Information Division to seize more networks and drug smuggling operations, and the Division has arrested 8 terrorist cells," Mawlawi said, noting that "we have not announced them [the arrests] due to the sensitivity of the issue given the professionalism and confidentiality requirements of the investigation."

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