Report: Western Intelligence Warns ISIL Preparing to Launch Attacks in North
Extremists from the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant are seeking to carry out security operations in northern Lebanon, reported al-Akhbar newspaper on Thursday.
Western diplomatic sources told the daily that western intelligence obtained information that ISIL-linked groups, present in the northern city of Tripoli, are preparing to carry out these attacks in an attempt to seize northern border areas.
Lebanese security sources meanwhile confirmed such information, but made light of the claims that militants would take over border regions.
They instead noted that the armed groups, which include Lebanese and Syrian members, are planning to launch assaults against army barracks, reported al-Akhbar.
Jihadists from the al-Nusra Front and Islamic State overran in August the northeastern border town of Arsal where they clashed with the army.
The fighting ended with the gunmen abducting a number of soldiers and policemen from the area.
The army last week raided Syrian refugee encampments in Arsal where it arrested a number of suspects.
Over the past months, Lebanese authorities arrested several suspected members of extremist groups throughout Lebanon.
M.T.
H.K.
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