Kuwaiti police bust ‘DAESH’ cell – SYRIANS, AUSTRALIAN, EGYPTIAN, KUWAITI HELD – Kuwait raises security level around oil facilities

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KUWAIT CITY, Nov 19: In a new preemptive move against DAESH cells in Kuwait, the local security agencies arrested a terrorist network consisting of six individuals including their leader, identified as Osama Mohammad Sayed Khayat. In a press statement, the Interior Ministry disclosed Khayat is a Lebanese residing in Kuwait and he was born here in 1975. He serves as terrorist communication coordinator and logistics support for DAESH.

He administers a website which he uses in supporting DAESH. During interrogations, Khayat said he signed contracts to buy weapons and missiles (FN6) for DAESH and he is in constant communication with the group’s command in Syria.

He revealed that he made these deals in Ukraine from where he shipped the weapons to Turkey and then delivered to DAESH. He also prints stamps, designs rubber stamps bearing DAESH slogans, and transfers funds to accounts in Turkey and Syria. He mentioned the names of his partners in the organization as follows: Abdul Karim Mohammad Saleem — a Syrian born in 1962 — is a weapons dealer with the company in Ukraine who facilitated the purchase of mobile missiles and wireless communication devices; Hasim Mohammad Kheir Tartari — a Syrian born in 1984 who works in an undisclosed company; Waeel Mohammad Ahmad Baghdadi — an Egyptian born in 1974; Rakan Nasser Al- Ajmi — a Kuwaiti born in 1988 who supports those suspected of involvement in terrorism operations; and Abdul Nasser Mahmoud Al-Shawa — a Syrian born in 1987. All of them have been arrested. The ministry affirmed the confessions unveiled the existence of four other persons affiliated with DAESH and are currently outside Kuwait.

These persons include Hisham Mohammad Dahab — an Australian of Lebanese origin; Waleed Naseef — a Syrian banker in Orfa, Turkey which is close to the Syrian border; Rabiya Dahab — an Australian of Lebanese origin; and Mohammad Hikmat Tartari — a Syrian born in 1980 who serves as external finance and communications coordinator for the group.

The ministry confirmed all those arrested, together with the confiscated weapons, were referred to the concerned security department; while reaffirming its intention to confront terrorist or extremist attempts to threaten the security and peace of this country and its people. It then called on everyone to fully cooperate with the security agencies for the benefit of the public. The Interior Ministry has raised the security level around the oil facilities and vital installations following information that the Shuaiba Port was a target for attacks, reports Al-Anba daily.

Moreover, leave has been cancelled and those in vital positions are required to report for duty even on days off and public holidays. Security precautions have also been taken by increasing the number of security personnel in each shift.

A circular which has been issued says emphasis have been laid down on checking the identities and permits of all workers particularly those working for the contracting companies. The sources added the circular also stresses on thorough inspection of cars at the entry and exit points and increased number of CCTV cameras working around the clock to ensure highest level of security measures to protect the oil and vital installations.

Meanwhile, the deadly attacks in Paris embody the importance of boosting international cooperation to counter terrorism in its forms, Undersecretary of Interior Ministry Lieutenant General Suleiman Al-Fahad stressed Wednesday night. Al-Fahad made the statement during a meeting with Director General of the French National Gendarmerie Denis Favier on the sidelines of the official visit in response to an invitation of French Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve. During the meeting, the two sides discussed means of promoting cooperation to upgrade efficiency of security personnel, said a statement by the Kuwait’s Interior Ministry. Al-Fahad offered deep condolences to the French official over the victims of the “terrorist attacks” in Paris last Friday, the statement added, noting he stressed that Kuwait supports France to combat the “terrorist acts.”

The Kuwait official underlined the significance of such meetings to exchange expertise and promote cooperation as well as open new horizons pertaining to the security field between the two countries. He was apprised of the structure of National Gendarmerie tasked with achieving several missions, including maintaining security among civilians, the statement said.

On his part, Favier welcomed Al- Fahad and his accompanying delegation, affirming the solidness of security relations between Kuwait and France. The meeting was attended by Interior Assistant Undersecretary of Financial and Administrative Affairs Major General Sheikh Ahmad Al-Abdullah Al- Sabah, Interior Assistant Undersecretary of the Citizenship and Passports Affairs Major General Sheikh Mazen Al-Jarrah Al-Sabah and director of Undersecretary’s office Major General Mansour Mahmoud Al-Awadhi. Visiting Kuwaiti Undersecretary of Interior Ministry Lieutenant General Suleiman Al-Fahad stressed the significance of promoting international cooperation to exchange information.

This comes during his meeting with Director of the International Cooperation Office of the French Interior Ministry Emile Perez, said Kuwait’s Ministry of Interior in a statement on Wednesday. Al-Fahad offered his condolences to Perez over the victims of the “terrorist attacks” on Paris last Friday that killed 129 people and injured 352 others, the statement added.

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Al-Fahad affirmed that France is able to overcome this ordeal and Kuwait stands against any act seeking to destabilize nations and harm their interests, it noted, indicating that he underlined the urgency of promoting cooperation among countries to combat this phenomenon. On his part, Perez said that France differentiates between the religious concepts and terrorist ones. He emphasized that the ministry works on controlling borders not only to combat terrorism but also to curb means of smuggling. The French official welcomed Al- Fahad and his accompanying delegation, stressing to the depth of relations between the two countries.

The meeting was attended by Kuwait’s Ambassador to France Sami Al- Suleiman, Interior Assistant Undersecretary of Financial and Administrative Affairs Major General Sheikh Ahmad Al-Abdullah Al-Sabah, Interior Assistant Undersecretary of the Citizenship and Passports Affairs Major General Sheikh Mazen Al-Jarrah Al- Sabah and director of Undersecretary’s office Major General Mansour Mahmoud Al-Awadhi. Deputy Foreign Minister Khaled Al- Jarallah announced Wednesday that the fight against terror would top the agenda of the upcoming Gulf Cooperation Council Summit in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. In a statement to reporters on the sidelines of his participation in the Omani Embassy’s celebrations of the national day, Al-Jarallah underlined the importance of pan-GCC cooperation to eradicate this major threat.

The Syria crisis and other regional issues require unified stance from the GCC member states, he emphasized. Al-Jarallah added that the summit will discuss a wide array of issues relevant to pan-GCC action and cooperation in various domains. The 36th Gulf Cooperation Council Summit will be held in the Saudi capital on Dec 9. Governments in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) are not providing financing for terrorists, French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius said on Wednesday, refuting accusations that terror groups were getting such support there.

Speaking at a Parliamentary debate devoted to the recent terror attacks here, Fabius said that France knew that cutting off terrorists’ financing “is an absolute necessity and one of the keys if we want to eradicate Daesh (ISIL). “ He said there was no evidence to suggest Gulf countries were giving money to the terrorist group. “Concerning the accusation (in parliament) brought against certain countries in the Gulf, our (intelligence) services on the order of the Prime Minister and me proceeded with the necessary verifications and the elements at our disposal do not allow us to bring any accusations against the governments of these countries,” Fabius told deputies. He said that if the contrary was ever the case, this would change the nature of relations between France and the countries in question. He said Paris would have “no complaisance” with countries financing terrorism. He stressed that international cooperation was ongoing on this question in a number of different forums and he said the members of the Coalition fighting against Daesh (ISIL) in Syria and Iraq “have put in place a cooperation on the question of financing” of the terror group. “We know how Daesh is financed. There is contraband oil, the (taking hostage) and ransoming of the population; there are also taxes on certain migrants who want to go to Europe and the pillaging of art works,” the French official said. Fabius also indicated that the question of financing would figure prominently in a UN Security Council resolution that would be tabled next week in New York. He additionally remarked that there would have to be an intensification of efforts to curb terrorist financing by increasing strikes against ISIL’s infrastructure, particularly the illicit traffic in oil. He noted the US was already doing this with its strikes and France envisaged doing the same

By Munaif Nayef Al-Seyassah Staff and Agencies

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