RABAT, Feb. 19 (Xinhua) -- Morocco has successfully foiled a "highly dangerous terrorist plot" and arrested 12 suspects, the Central Bureau of Judicial Investigation announced on Wednesday.

In a press release, the bureau said the country's counter-terrorism service launched simultaneous operations on Wednesday in cities including Casablanca, Fez, and Tangier. The operations led to the arrest of 12 suspects, aged 18 to 40, and the seizure of weapons and improvised explosive devices.

The statement revealed that Islamic State (IS) militants active in the Sahel region provided financial and logistical support to the suspects.

The Sahel, a narrow strip south of the Sahara Desert in Africa, has faced persistent challenges in recent years, including poverty, armed conflicts, and natural disasters, contributing to a heightened terrorist threat.

Morocco has intensified its crackdown on extremist plots, with its counter-terrorism service dismantling a four-member terrorist cell in Casablanca last month. Enditem

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