Lebanese caretaker Interior Minister Nohad Machnouk said on Friday that Internal Security Forces succeeded in thwarting nine terrorist attacks in 2018, National News Agency (NNA) reported.

"Lebanon is considered one of the safest countries and we hope that the safety and security are maintained by strong cooperation among different security services," Machnouk was quoted as saying by NNA.

His remarks came during a meeting with Internal Security Forces Chief Imad Othman.

Earlier in the day, Lebanese President Michel Aoun also highlighted Lebanon's success in maintaining national security during his meeting at Baabda palace with a delegation from the Higher Judicial Council headed by Judge Jean Fahed.

Aoun said the Lebanese army and security forces succeeded in achieving security in the country by winning over terrorism, according to the presidency's website.

Aoun declared victory over terrorism following the August 2017 campaign launched by Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) to expel the Islamic State militants along the Lebanese-Syrian border near the eastern town of Arsal.

It was the LAF's largest and most successful military operation in more than a decade.