Army Busts 'Terror' Cell, Confiscates Explosives

The Army revealed on Thursday that it has broken up a cell, detained its members and confiscated a quantity of detonators and explosives.

“After thorough investigations the army intelligence arrested on Monday several members of a suspected network,” the army said in a communique.

It pointed out that it is pursuing the rest of the cell's members.

Earlier on Thursday, al-Joumhouria newspaper reported that the army busted an al-Qaida cell recently plotting to carry out terrorist acts to destabilize the country and its security.

The network is comprised of four Syrian and Lebanese members, according to the newspaper.

The Army intelligence is currently interrogating the 4-member network, who were detained in the capital Beirut after investigations.

Security sources told al-Joumhouria that the network's mission was to target the Lebanese army and its barracks in cooperation with members of Syria's al-Nusra Front rebel group, currently residing in Ain el-Hilweh Palestinian refugee camp.

The report revealed that the network was plotting to assassinate a list of Lebanese politicians and security chiefs to create chaos in the country.

The sources told the newspaper that the “terrorists are currently residing in Ain el-Hilweh, Tripoli and the outskirts of Arsal.”

The Lebanese army uncovered in 2012 a takfiri network within its ranks, which was planning on carrying out attacks against army barracks and centers.