Report: 2 Islamists Arrested in Syria after Escaping Ain el-Hilweh

Two Islamists, who have escaped the southern Palestinian refugee camp of Ain el-Hilweh, were arrested by Syrian security forces in Hama, al-Akhbar daily reported on Wednesday.

The newspaper said that Palestinian officials have received unconfirmed information about the arrest of the two Islamists who were reportedly among at least seven extremists who escaped the camp.

Conflicting reports emerged in early May that seven Fatah al-Islam members had sneaked out of Ain el-Hilweh and that Toufic Taha was among them.

Taha is reportedly the head of a takfiri network that the Lebanese army had recently uncovered. The group was plotting attacks against army barracks and bases.

It remained unclear where the fugitives had escaped to, but it has been speculated that they were in Syria.