BEIRUT: Lebanon鈥檚 interior minister said Internal Security Forces (ISF) in June 2017 arrested Abu Jaafar Al-Iraqi, a Daesh leader, preventing terrorist attacks during the Christmas holidays.

Nohad Machnouk visited the ISF directorate on Friday and was accompanied by Gen. Emad Othman, the directorate鈥檚 director-general, to congratulate its leadership on the 鈥渆xtraordinary efforts in carrying out that exceptional security operation.鈥�

The minister held a press conference, during which a documentary about the operation and its implications was featured.

Al-Iraqi, who was living secretly in Lebanon, 鈥渨as forced to work鈥� for the ISF 鈥渇or five months without Daesh鈥檚 leadership knowing of his arrest,鈥� said Machnouk.

鈥淎 volunteer source was contacted to call him on a daily basis, and rented a highly monitored house for him in the mountains,鈥� he added.

鈥淭he result was the disclosure of all terrorist attacks that were to be carried out during the past five months.鈥�

Al-Iraqi said Daesh could not carry out any attacks in Lebanon due to the state鈥檚 military and security measures.

Machnouk said: 鈥淭he security operation was named Safe Lebanon to assure the Lebanese people as well as Arabs that Lebanon鈥檚 security was managed in a highly professional manner.鈥�