Al-Mashnouq, Basbous Laud ISF on Fight against Terrorism

Interior Minister Nouhad al-Mashnouq and the Internal Security Forces chief, Maj. Gen. Ibrahim Basbous, praised on Monday the police force for making several achievements in the fight against terrorism.

“Lebanon and the Lebanese will always remember the ISF's fight against terror and the arrest of terrorist networks,” al-Mashnouq said at the 153th anniversary of the ISF.

During a ceremony held at Wissam al-Hasan Barracks in Dbayeh, north of Beirut, he lauded the cooperation between the Lebanese army and the police to protect the country.

Al-Mashnouq praised the ISF's achievements in uncovering the suspects behind many deadly bombings and plots throughout Lebanon.

He also lauded the uncovering of the telecommunications data by an ISF officer in ex-Premier Rafik Hariri's Feb. 2005 assassination.

Major Wissam Eid, a top communications analyst with the police intelligence bureau, was assassinated in a 2008 car bombing. He is believed to have cracked the case in Hariri's murder.

Al-Mashnouq called for a new “security culture” in Lebanon.

Turning to the country’s political crisis, he said: “The paralysis of the state institutions leads to a vacuum in the Republic.”

“The nation, the state and its institutions will remain steadfast. They can confront local and international dangers and overcome crises,” the minister added.

Lebanon has been without a president since the expiry of Michel Suleiman's six-year term on May 25.

Basbous made similar praises, saying “the achievements made by the ISF have been locally and internationally applauded.”

“Security is a major condition for prosperity,” he said.

The police chief hoped for a stable society in which the people would enjoy their rights.

Basbous said the ISF is in the service of the nation and honest citizens, adding it would not tolerate outlaws and would strike assailants with an iron fist.

“The ISF is not politically biased and steers itself clear of sectarian divisions,” he stressed.

G.K.

D.A.