Latest news with #Qasoura
The National
01-07-2025
- Politics
- The National
‘Terrorist cell' uncovered in Beirut was plotting attacks on major religious gathering
Members of a "terrorist cell" arrested in Beirut were plotting attacks on the Shiite community during Ashura religious events this weekend, security sources told The National. Lebanon's General Security Directorate said on Monday it had arrested a terrorist cell in Beirut that sought to carry out attacks in sensitive areas in the Lebanese capital. It said the cell was linked to extremist organisations and planned to launch synchronised attacks. The members had been monitored for several weeks. 'They were planning to attack large gatherings of Shiites during Ashoura this weekend,' one of the security sources said. 'This is terrifying. Lebanon is highly exposed in terms of security and entering a dangerous phase,' the security official added. For Shiite Muslims, Ashura marks the anniversary of the martyrdom of Imam Hussein bin Ali, the Prophet Mohammed's grandson, in 680AD, along with his family members and loyalists. Lebanon, a multi-faith country, has previously experienced attacks during religious events by extremist groups and armed militias. On Monday, before the arrests, a security official in Beirut told The National that Lebanon feared possible attacks by extremist groups following the deadly church bombing in neighbouring Syria. The Lebanese army announced last week the arrest of the suspected leader of ISIS in Lebanon, accusing him of planning attacks. The man, identified as RF and also known by the alias Qasoura, was captured after a series of surveillance and intelligence efforts by the military's Intelligence Directorate. Threat far from over Weapons, ammunition and drone-making equipment were seized during the raid, the army said. 'He was educated, a school teacher of chemistry with experience in telecommunications and surveillance,' a security source told The National on Sunday. The army described him as a "prominent leader of the terrorist organisation Daesh" and said he had assumed control of the group's Lebanon branch following the arrests of several senior figures in December, including his predecessor, known as Abu Saeed Al Shami. Authorities fear that dormant ISIS and other extremist cells in Lebanon could now be activated in retaliation or as part of a wider plan to destabilise the country. The concerns come amid renewed instability in neighbouring Syria, where a suicide bomber killed at least 25 people at a Damascus church earlier this month. Syrian authorities blamed ISIS for the attack. Although largely driven underground after a major military defeat in 2017, ISIS and other extremist groups have fought bloody battles with the Lebanese army in the past and carried out bombings against Hezbollah and its supporters. Now, with Syria's political landscape shifting after the collapse of President Bashar Al Assad's regime last year, Lebanese officials warn that the threat is far from over.
The National
30-06-2025
- Politics
- The National
Lebanon fears extremist attacks after ISIS-linked arrest and Syria bombing, security officials say
Lebanon fears potential attacks by extremist groups following a deadly church bombing in Syria, a security official in Beirut told The National. Last week, the Lebanese army announced the arrest of the suspected leader of ISIS in Lebanon, accusing him of planning several 'security operations'. The man, identified as RF and also known by the alias Qasoura, was captured after a series of surveillance and intelligence efforts by the military's Intelligence Directorate. Weapons, ammunition and drone-making equipment were seized during the raid, the army said. 'He was educated, a school teacher of chemistry with experience in telecommunications and surveillance,' a security source told The National on Sunday. The army described him as a "prominent leader of the terrorist organisation Daesh" and said he had assumed control of the group's Lebanon branch following the arrests of several senior figures in December, including his predecessor, known as Abu Saeed Al Shami. Authorities fear that dormant ISIS and other extremist cells in Lebanon could now be activated in retaliation or as part of a wider plan to destabilise the country. 'Lebanon's security situation is fragile, both along the Syrian border and internally, especially in the north,' a second security official said. 'There are also reports about sleeper cells planning attacks against the army.' The concerns come amid renewed instability in neighbouring Syria, where a suicide bomber killed at least 25 people at a Damascus church earlier this month. Syrian authorities blamed ISIS for the attack. Though largely driven underground after a major military defeat in 2017, ISIS and other Sunni extremist groups have fought bloody battles with the Lebanese army in the past and carried out bombings targeting Hezbollah and its supporters. Now, with Syria's political landscape shifting after the collapse of President Bashar Al Assad's regime last year, Lebanese officials warn that the threat is far from over.
LBCI
25-06-2025
- Politics
- LBCI
Terror returns? Damascus church bombing sparks Lebanese probe into ISIS ties
Report by Lara El Hachem, English adaptation by Karine Keuchkerian All signs — from Syria to Lebanon — suggest that terrorist cells remain active. In Damascus, a terrorist group bombed Saint Elias church. The Syrian government blamed ISIS for the attack, while a group calling itself Saraya Ansar al-Sunna claimed responsibility. In Beirut, the Lebanese army announced the arrest of one of ISIS' top commanders, Lebanese national R.F., known by the alias 'Qasoura.' Is there a connection between the church bombing in Syria and Qasoura's arrest? According to security sources, Qasoura had been under surveillance for months, and the army has never ceased its preemptive intelligence efforts to track and prevent sleeper cells from operating. While the Damascus bombing has not triggered any direct repercussions in Lebanon, sources consider it a warning sign — prompting continued security coordination between Lebanon and Syria. LBCI has learned that Lebanon has requested Syria to provide the identities of those arrested in connection with the recent church bombing. Authorities want to determine whether any are Lebanese, have criminal records in Lebanon, or are linked to extremist groups operating locally. They also raised the possibility of further joint security cooperation once the investigation concludes. Meanwhile, Lebanese-Syrian security meetings continue, especially following Prime Minister Nawaf Salam's recent talks in Syria. One primary objective of these meetings is to report any security breaches along the intertwined northern and eastern borders, where both countries share critical security interests. Lebanon's Army Commander, General Rodolph Haykal, visited Lebanese military positions in the Bekaa region two days ago to inspect ongoing efforts to maintain border control on the Lebanese side.
Nahar Net
25-06-2025
- Politics
- Nahar Net
Lebanese Army says arrested IS Lebanon leader
by Naharnet Newsdesk 25 June 2025, 12:43 The Lebanese Army said it has arrested the suspected leader of the Islamic State group in Lebanon after implicating him in planning several operations. "Following a series of security, surveillance and monitoring operations, the Intelligence Directorate arrested citizen R.F., nicknamed "Qasoura", a prominent leader of the terrorist organization Daesh," the army said, using the Arabic acronym for IS. Weapons and ammunitions were also seized. According to the army, Qasoura took over the group's Lebanon branch after the arrest of several prominent figures in December. The announcement comes days after a suicide bomber killed at least 25 people in a church in neighboring Syria, with authorities there blaming IS. IS and other Sunni extremist groups fought several battles with the Lebanese Army in the 2010s and carried out a series of deadly bombings targeting Shiite militant group Hezbollah and its supporters. But they were largely defeated militarily in 2017.
The National
25-06-2025
- The National
'Qasoura', suspected ISIS leader, detained by Lebanese army
The suspected leader of ISIS in Lebanon has been arrested, the country's army has said, accusing him of planning several "security operations". The Lebanese military posted on X on Tuesday that a suspect named RF, also known as Qasoura, had been detained by its Intelligence Directorate following a series of security, surveillance and monitoring operations. Weapons and ammunition were seized along with equipment for manufacturing drones, the army said. The military labelled him a "prominent leader of the terrorist organisation Daesh". According to the army, Qasoura took over the Lebanon branch of I SIS after the arrest of several major figures in December including his predecessor, who was nicknamed Abu Saeedal-Shami. An investigation is under way, the military said. Fears of a resurgence of ISIS have been running high in the region with the collapse last year of the regime of president Bashar Al Assad in neighbouring Syria. On Sunday, a suicide bomber killed at least 25 people at a church in Damascus, with authorities blaming ISIS. It and other Sunni extremist groups fought several battles with the Lebanese army in the 2010s and carried out a series of deadly bombings targeting the Lebanese militia Hezbollah and its supporters. But they were largely defeated militarily in 2017.
