BEIRUT (Reuters) – The Lebanese army says it has arrested a prominent Al-Qaeda leader in Deir Ammar town, northeast of the city of Tripoli. It identified the arrested man only as “T.M.” and said in a statement that the arrest took place on Friday. “T.M. is one of the most prominent leaders of Al-Qaeda and the founder of its cells in Lebanon,” it added. “He has also played a key role in establishing the terrorist (so-called) Fatah al-Islam organization,” the statement added, referring to an Al-Qaeda-inspired militant group that used to be active in Lebanon over a decade ago.

The Lebanese army said T.M. withdrew from the spotlight in late 2007 following a fierce battle between the military and terrorists at a refugee camp in northern Lebanon.