Morocco Foils ‘Highly Dangerous’ Terror Plot

Moroccan special forces. Reuters file photo
Moroccan special forces. Reuters file photo
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Morocco Foils ‘Highly Dangerous’ Terror Plot

Moroccan special forces. Reuters file photo
Moroccan special forces. Reuters file photo

The Central Bureau of Judicial Investigation (BCIJ) said on Wednesday that it successfully thwarted a “highly dangerous” terrorist plot targeting Morocco, commissioned and instigated directly by a senior ISIS leader in the Sahel region of Africa.

It said the plot was thwarted based on precise information provided by the General Directorate for Territorial Surveillance (DGST).

An operation conducted simultaneously in the cities of Laayoune, Casablanca, Fez, Taounate, Tangier, Azemmour, Jersif, Oulad Tayma and Tamsna, in the suburbs of Rabat, resulted in the arrest of 12 extremists aged between 18 and 40 years, who had pledged allegiance to the ISIS terrorist organization and were involved in preparing and coordinating perilous terrorist projects, said a statement from DGST.

According to Maghreb Arabe Presse (MAP), intelligence information, supported by investigations, shows that the members of the terrorist cell were linked to a senior ISIS leader in the Sahel region, in charge of the so-called “external operations” committee tasked with internationalizing terrorist projects outside the Sahel region south of the Sahara, who oversaw the financing and logistical support, and further provided members of this cell with digital content explaining the modus operandi of the terrorist operations.

The investigations also unveiled that the terrorist cell adopted a precise organizational method, under instructions of the same ISIS leader, where terrorist plots were addressed exclusively to the team of “coordinators” who were, in turn, in charge of sending these plans to other members either directly or through indirect channels.

Then, the plans are communicated to the team of those “involved” in carrying out terrorist operations, as well as to the branch in charge of support and financing, which directly receives financial payments from ISIS without going through banks.

As for the imminent terrorist projects identified by the ISIS Sahel branch assigned to the members of this terrorist cell, they include targeting members of the public force by luring and kidnapping them, eliminating them and desecrating their bodies; targeting sensitive economic and security facilities and foreign interests in Morocco; as well as committing terrorist acts affecting the environment by deliberately setting fires.



Lebanon Ready for Syria Pact to Repatriate Non-Terror Convicts

Lebanon’s Justice Minister Adel Nassar (NNA)
Lebanon’s Justice Minister Adel Nassar (NNA)
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Lebanon Ready for Syria Pact to Repatriate Non-Terror Convicts

Lebanon’s Justice Minister Adel Nassar (NNA)
Lebanon’s Justice Minister Adel Nassar (NNA)

Lebanon’s Justice Minister Adel Nassar said Beirut had received no warnings from Damascus about potential retaliatory measures to push for the release of Syrian detainees held in Lebanese prisons, dismissing any talk of escalation as unnecessary.

“There’s no need for escalation. We’re fully open to resolving this issue through direct dialogue and a formal treaty with the Syrian authorities, one that allows the transfer of Syrian convicts, except those sentenced for killing Lebanese soldiers or for terrorism charges,” Nassar told Asharq Al-Awsat.

Nassar revealed that his ministry had already prepared a draft agreement aimed at moving the stalled file forward, stressing that resolving the issue is in Lebanon’s interest as much as Syria’s.

“This would ease the severe overcrowding in our prisons,” he said. “We’re determined to take every step in full compliance with Lebanese law and judicial procedures.”

According to Nassar, some 1,700 Syrians are currently detained in Lebanon, including 389 with final verdicts. The rest are still on trial.

“Their treatment is identical to that of Lebanese inmates,” he added. “We’re holding court sessions directly at Roumieh prison to address logistical constraints, and there’s also an intention to do the same for the military court.”

Addressing the recent Cabinet appointment of Maher Shaito as financial public prosecutor, a move widely seen as a win for the minister after rejecting a nominee backed by the Hezbollah-Amal alliance, Nassar insisted the process was purely institutional.

“This was a victory for state institutions. I can’t nominate someone I don’t believe is qualified,” he said. “After consulting senior judges and the head of the Higher Judicial Council, it was clear there was consensus around Shaito due to his credentials and track record.”

He stressed that the appointment involved “no deals or political bartering,” adding that while he found Judge Ziad Hamadeh unsuitable for that specific post, “I never said he was unfit for another position.”

Nassar described his meeting Saturday with Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri as “positive,” saying Berri expressed support for the minister’s efforts under the principle of judicial independence.

On long-awaited judicial appointments, Nassar said the Judicial Council was working “around the clock” and had promised to complete the file by the end of the month. “Some 600 names are currently under consideration,” he noted.

As Lebanon approaches the fifth anniversary of the 2020 Beirut port explosion, Nassar said he would not interfere with the timeline of investigative judge Tarek Bitar, who is handling the politically sensitive case.

“Judge Bitar is continuing his probe, and I’m offering full cooperation within the limits of my authority, especially when it comes to securing information from abroad,” he said. “We won’t allow any obstruction of his work.”

Nassar said the timing of the indictment “depends on whether he receives the answers to all his questions,” adding: “There’s no legal deadline obliging him to issue a ruling by a specific date.”

Responding to reports that he and other ministers had objected to certain appointments during the last Cabinet session, Nassar confirmed his opposition to the newly named Banking Control Commission, saying ministers had not been briefed beforehand.

He also voiced strong objection to linking the disarmament of Hezbollah to any other file.

“I told Cabinet and President Joseph Aoun that the issue of arms must not be conditional. I believe in the exclusive right of the state to bear arms - there can be no functioning state otherwise,” he said.

Nassar added that Aoun had promised to refer any final document related to the ongoing US-mediated talks on the weapons issue back to the Cabinet for discussion.