Lebanese army dismantles terrorist cell, arresting 18 Daesh members

In recent months, the Islamic State (IS) or Daesh has regained its strength in several countries in the Middle East, and many states have refocused their efforts on preventing the organisation from re-emerging with full capabilities to operate on a global scale across the region.

Iraq, with the help of the international coalition led by the United States, announced the death of Abu Yasser al-Issawi, the jihadist group's most senior official in the country. The death of the leader of Daesh in Iraq is a hard blow for the organisation, which is in a phase of reorganisation, taking advantage of the political chaos in the country and the departure of US military personnel, who as of this month have reduced their numbers to 2,500 men.

Meanwhile, Lebanese security forces have confirmed that they have dismantled a Daesh terrorist cell operating near the Syrian border. Eighteen Lebanese and Syrian nationals were arrested. A large quantity of weapons and ammunition were also seized during the operation in an intelligence operation in the border town of Arsal, the commander of the Armed Forces explained.

According to army sources, when interrogated, the detainees confessed to belonging to the Islamic State, swearing allegiance to the militant group, as well as their intention to carry out "any terrorist act".

The border town of Arsal has for many years been a haven for jihadists returning from the Syrian war. In 2014, hundreds of Daesh and al-Qaeda jihadists from Syria stormed the town, bringing the war to Lebanese soil, capturing dozens of Lebanese soldiers and policemen.

Finally, in 2017, after an offensive by the Lebanese, Syrian and Lebanese Shiite militia-party Hezbollah, the jihadists were driven out of Arsal and forced to retreat to Syria.