Lebanese security forces stormed on Monday Roumieh prison in search for illegal items, including block B.

Lebanese security forces stormed on Monday Roumieh prison in search for illegal items, including block B.

 “A search operation is being carried out at the facility, including in block B,” according to a communique issued by the Internal Security Forces.

In a statement, the ISF said some prisoners from Bloc B were transferred to Bloc D. “When guards began transferring a number of prisoners from block B to D, inmates started riots and burned mattresses to protest the security measures,” the statement pointed out.

As the operation got underway, Lebanese Army helicopters hovered at low altitudes above the overcrowded complex.

The ISF stressed that no injuries were recorded and the situation is under control.

The ISF said some of the prisoners burned their mattresses in protest but no casualties were recorded. "The situation inside the Roumieh prison is under control," the ISF statement.

Interior Minister Nouhad al-Mashnouq, who arrived at the facility to supervise the operation, said that the implementation of the security plan at Roumieh began after investigations showed that some inmates are linked to security acts in Lebanon. But Mashnouq said the operation was "not related" to the issue of the Army and police captives held in the outskirts of the northeastern Arsal.

“The operation in Roumieh started after we busted calls between prisoners inside Bloc B and members of ISIL linked to the Jabal Mohsen case,” the minister said.