ISF Intelligence Officer Gunned Down in Zgharta as Army Seizes Bomb

An Internal Security Forces intelligence officer was killed at dawn Monday after gunmen opened fire at him in the northern district of Zgharta, the ISF and the state-run National News Agency said, while an explosive device was seized later in the day in the region.

NNA said Chief Warrant Officer Ghassan Ajaj, 47, died after an armed man shot him near his house in the town of Meryata.

According to MTV, Ajaj entered the house's garage after returning home around 11:00 pm.

“He was shot dead by a gunman who was lurking in an orange grove near the house,” MTV added.

Ajaj's wife told the TV network that her husband had said that he sensed that his life was threatened “without revealing any other details.”

“He used to switch cars every now and then,” the wife noted.

In the evening, MTV reported that “there is a link between the assassination of Ajaj and the investigations into the blasts that targeted al-Taqwa and al-Salam mosques in Tripoli” in August 2013.

Meanwhile, a security source told LBCI television that the officer was murdered “in connection with his work at the ISF Intelligence Bureau.”

“His assassination is a terrorist operation and a message to the bureau,” the source said.

The ISF said in a communique that Ajaj was shot dead by unknown assailants. He had served in several posts and received medals of honor during his career.

He is survived by his wife and four children, it added.

However, the communique did not reveal the circumstances of his murder.

In another security development in the Zgharta region, the army announced Monday evening that a military intelligence force had raided a room in Zgharta's Karm al-Tin area where it arrested two Syrian nationals.

“An explosive device, four mortar shells, an 83mm rocket, three hand grenades and a quantity of various ammunition were seized at the room,” the army added.

G.K./Y.R.