Another Soldier Claims Joining Jihadist Ranks
A new video has been released by the Islamic State, claiming a Lebanese soldier from the northern Akkar district has joined the ranks of the terrorist group.
Abdul Menhem Khaled appeared in the IS video, in which he announced his defection.
Khaled, who hails from the town of Dweir Adawiyeh, escaped around four months ago and failed to report to duty, the state-run National News Agency said Tuesday.
If true, the number of defections from the army would rise to four.
NNA said the army carried out raids in Khaled's hometown after the video of his alleged defection appeared.
Any soldier who fails to show up at service would be considered a fugitive after 42 hours and an arrest warrant would be issued against him. He would also be referred to the military court.
Soldiers Abdullah Ahmed Shehade and Mohammed Antar announced last week that they joined al-Qaida-linked al-Nusra Front.
But Corporal Atef Mohammed Saadeddine was the first to join the terrorist group in neighboring Syria in July.
They have claimed that their move was the result of the injustice against Sunnis in Lebanon.
Islamists in the country say that Sunnis are facing harassment by the army, which they accuse of working under the command of Hizbullah.
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H.K.
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