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On 08/21/2020, and after the occurrence of the Kaftun crime, which caused the death of three local citizens, the Information Division of the Internal Security Forces began its investigations to find out the circumstances and motives for the crime.
As a result of the immediate field and information monitoring, the Division was able to identify the perpetrators of the crime, namely the Syrians (MH) and (YK) and the Lebanese (AS) and (AB), since it was determined that the aforementioned they were part of a large cell that worked for the ISIS Organization in Lebanon.
As a result of the monitoring and follow-up processes, and based on the reference of the competent Judicial Power, the Division has identified the identity of the members of the group, whose number (18), of Lebanese, Syrian and Palestinian nationality, and there are / 13 / of them prioritized for crimes belonging to terrorist organizations and were previously arrested for this charge.
The Information Division began its immediate actions in order to arrest the members of the cell, for which it managed to arrest / 3 / of its members who are
– The Palestinian (AS) – was arrested in the Beddawi camp on 8/23/2020
– The Lebanese (AA) was arrested in the Halba area on 8/26/2020
– The Lebanese (AB) was arrested in the Bekaa on 8/27/2020.
When questioning the aforementioned, they confessed the following:
– They belong to an ISIS-affiliated cell in Lebanon and swore allegiance to the organization at the request of their emir (MH).
– They have prepared explosive devices and belts, in addition to the purchase of light and medium arms, ammunition and hand grenades in order to prepare to carry out terrorist operations against some Lebanese regions, in addition to the Lebanese army and security services, and informants who work for them. The arrested (AS) also admitted that his emir had carried out robberies to cover the expenses of the cell, and that he knew that he directed them to Kaftoun for that purpose, knowing that he helped them at that time to remove the license plates from the car before heading to the mentioned town – (his statements were verified).
– The arrested man (AA) was found to be a doctor, and the group members were transferred to Wadi Khaled after the Kaftoun crime, at the request of his Emir (MH).
The arrestee (AB), a mechanical engineer, admitted that he swore allegiance to ISIS and assisted in the manufacture of explosive belts.
The Division arrived at the location of the apartment that the group was using as a safe place for him in the town of Al-Bireh – Akkar, where it was raided on 8/24/2020, and inside it were materials and detonators that were used in the manufacture of explosive devices and belts.
On 8/28/2020, the Information Division carried out raids in the town of Hanider – Wadi Khaled, which included three houses and a sawmill belonging to four members of the cell without finding them, while seizing a quantity of military weapons, ammunition, land mines and materials used in the manufacture of explosives.
Intensive field and informational investigations were initiated. As a result, it became clear that most of the group’s members, including four from the town of Wadi Khaled, are present with their emir in unknown places in the mentioned town, while some of them are in secret places located in the areas in which they reside.
As a result of the follow-up, and on the morning of 09/26/2020, two people from the Wadi Khaled area were detained, who were under surveillance due to information that they were providing logistical support to the group’s members at the house in the one that was hidden.
Their interrogation confirmed that the members of the group possessed light and medium weapons, as well as a large number of grenades, Laotian missiles, belts and explosive devices.
At 4:30 p.m. on 09/26/2020, the attack force of the Information Division carried out a specific operation that caused the house to be surrounded from all sides, and when those inside the house were warned that they surrendered, they began firing, shells and bombs in abundance, and the attack force responded to them appropriately. An armed confrontation took place that lasted until approximately one in the morning, resulting in the liquidation of the nine members of the group present in the house (work is underway to confirm their identities) without injuries in the ranks of the assault force.
Large amounts of weapons, ammunition, grenades and explosive belts were seized.
Investigations and proceedings are still ongoing under the supervision of the Public Ministry of Cassation.
