Loyalist sources in the North say that dissident loyalist groups believe that the security forces have penetrated their organisations following the arrest of a number of men and the recovery of weapons and explosives in Antrim and Tyrone last week.
The successes of the security forces follow an increase in dissident loyalist attacks on a number of Catholic homes in the North. They also come shortly after the Red Hand Defenders, who earlier this year claimed responsibility for the murder of the Lurgan solicitor, Ms Rosemary Nelson, announced that they intended to step up their attacks on "random Catholic targets".
The apparent ease with which the RUC carried out its recent operations has surprised the dissident loyalist groups, which now believe there is an informant within their ranks.
"There is no doubt whatsoever that the RUC were acting on detailed information when they carried out these arrest operations", one loyalist source said. "The arrests in Dungannon last week clearly indicate that someone who knew what was happening tipped off the RUC."
The source said that the activity of the security forces would only make the dissident loyalists more determined to show that they had not been affected by the arrests. "These people totally oppose the Belfast Agreement and loyalist ceasefire. There is little doubt they will continue their attacks. They also expect the security forces will carry out further operations against them. That's a risk they are prepared to take."