Lebanon: IS-affiliated terrorist cell dismantled

Event

On Thursday, October 19, Lebanese security authorities announced that a terrorist cell in the Hasbaya region (south) had been dismantled. The cell included four Syrian nationals with suspected ties to the Islamic State (IS) who were allegedly planning attacks to carry out in Lebanon. In an audio recording, the head of the cell reportedly claimed he was ready to carry out attacks against a Lebanese political party, nightclubs, and the Casino du Liban.

Context

In mid-September, a number of Western countries including the US, UK, France, and Canada issued warnings to their citizens regarding the elevated terrorist risk in Lebanon. The US Embassy warned specifically of a possible attack on the Casino du Liban. The situation reportedly stabilized several days later following the arrest of suspected IS members at the Ain Al-Hilweh Palestinian refugee camp.

Advice

Due to the threat of terrorism, some Western governments advise their nationals against travel to the city of Tripoli, as well as Beirut's southern districts, southern Lebanon, and the country's eastern regions (including Baalbek, Hermel, Majdel, and Rachaiya).