Asoun Terrorist Cell Planned Ashura Gathering Attacks, Assassinations

Militant Ahmed Salim Miqati, who was arrested during an army raid in the town of Asoun in the northern district of Dinniyeh, and 12 members of his terrorist cell, had plans to execute violent attacks on the 27th of Oct against Ashura gatherings in several Shiite Lebanese areas, media reports said.

The cell that includes Miqati, 5 Lebanese and 7 Syrian nationals had plans to move from Tripoli to Beirut. Another terrorist cell was meant to join them from the Burj al-Barajneh and the Ain el-Hilweh Palestinian refugee camp to help execute suicidal terrorist attacks against Shiite gatherings in the southern suburb of Beirut, Nabatieh and Lassa in Jbeil.

Led by Miqati, the network had further plans to assassinate Lebanese political figures including Speaker Nabih Berri and al-Mustaqbal MP Ahmad Fatfat, in an evil bid to trigger a Shiite-Sunni strife, information said.

The Lebanese Army had warned Fatfat lately asking him to take precautions and limit his movement.

Fatfat confirmed the report, saying: “Two weeks ago I was asked to limit my movements because of security threats in the region, and that I should stay in Beirut.”

“The whole problem lies in the chaos in tackling the issue of Syrian refugees and the failure to control and organize it years ago,” he lamented.

He praised the Lebanese army's efforts to combat the terrorists, noting that “the army performed a good military operation in Dinniyeh and the tactics it used were positive.”

Army intelligence agents on Thursday raided an apartment in the town of Asoun, which was inhabited by a “group of terrorists,” killing three gunmen and apprehending Miqati.

Miqati recently pledged allegiance to the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) and established cells linked to the group in the region.

He was planning to carry out a huge terrorist act along with his son Omar, who is fighting alongside ISIL in Arsal, according to a military communique.

Miqati is also the relative of Bilal Omar Miqati who is accused of beheading Lebanese soldiers on the outskirts of Arsal.

Furthermore, data collected from Miqati's cellular phone showed that he had been contacting al-Mustaqbal bloc MP Khaled al-Daher via the WhatsApp mobile messaging application.

The militant sent to Daher “videos of defections of Lebanese army troops” while the MP used to send him “messages of motivation and encouragement,” al-Jadeed said.

The Lebanese army executed precautionary measures and arrested several terrorists after raiding a number of locations in Tripoli's Bab al-Tabbaneh.

D.A.

H.K.