By Nohad Topalian | 2025-07-08

BEIRUT -- Lebanese authorities have been targeting "Islamic State of Iraq and Syria" (ISIS) commanders and rank-and-file members in preemptive operations based on surveillance and intelligence information, security experts said.

The success of these operations, which include the recent arrest of the most senior ISIS leader in Lebanon, have contributed to a decline in the group's regional operations, they said.

In a June 24 statement, the army announced the arrest of Lebanese national "R. F.", known as "Qaswara," describing him as one of the most prominent ISIS leaders in the country.

During the same raid, security authorities confiscated a large quantity of weapons and ammunition, along with drone manufacturing equipment.

Qaswara is accused of participating in planning various terrorist operations to destabilize the country, the statement said, and his arrest followed intensive monitoring and intelligence efforts by the army's Intelligence Directorate.

According to the army, Qaswara assumed command of ISIS operations in Lebanon after the arrest of his Lebanese predecessor, known as Abu Saeed al-Shami, who was arrested with other ISIS leaders in December.

Counter-terrorism efforts

The arrest of Qaswara demonstrates that the Lebanese state is "striving to combat terrorism and pursue both sleeper and active networks," security expert Pierre Bou Assaf told Al-Fassel.

Through preemptive operations such as this, it is working to prevent extremist elements "from harming the interests of the state and the people and destabilizing the country."

The pursuit of ISIS in Lebanon involves "local, regional and international security and intelligence effort and cooperation, and has resulted in the uncovering of sleeper cells and thwarting of their terrorist acts before they occur," he said.

"Regional agencies have fought and continue to fight ISIS in the region, and have curbed its activity, while the international coalition has succeeded in reducing its influence in the region, particularly in Iraq and Syria," he said.

Qaswara's arrest and interrogation is expected to generate information that will lead to the arrest of ISIS sleeper cells in Lebanon, political writer Clovis Choueifat told Al-Fassel.

International coalition forces have simultaneously weakened ISIS's regional influence with "successive and decisive strikes," he added.

"International coalition forces worked on several fronts," he said, pointing out that ISIS has been dealt heavy blows that range from military strikes to cutting off its sources of funding and the imposition of sanctions on its financiers.

Meanwhile, ISIS has become embroiled in internal battles, and in rivalries with other extremist groups, he said, "which have reduced its regional influence and curbed its activity."