'Free Sunnis Brigade' Pledges Allegiance to 'Caliph of Muslims' al-Baghdadi

The shadowy Free Sunnis of Baalbek Brigade on Monday pledged allegiance to Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, the chief of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, a day after the powerful jihadist group declared an “Islamic caliphate” led by Baghdadi.

“With utmost honor and pride, we announce our allegiance to the jihadist Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi as a caliph for Muslims,” the Brigade announced on its Twitter account.

“We also announce our full support for everything the ISIL is doing for the sake of Islam and right, as it is the duty of every Muslim to seek a caliph who can establish the rule of (Islamic) Sharia,” the group added.

The ruthless jihadists of the ISIL, who are spearheading a Sunni militant offensive in Iraq, on Sunday declared an "Islamic caliphate" and ordered Muslims worldwide to pledge allegiance to their chief, in a spectacular bid to extend their authority.

The group renamed itself simply the Islamic State (IS) and declared its elusive frontman the leader of the world's Muslims, in a clear challenge to al-Qaida for control of the global jihadist movement.

A "caliphate" is an Islamic form of government last seen under the Ottoman Empire.

The mysterious Free Sunnis of Baalbek Brigade had in the past claimed that it is an affiliate of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, but the ISIL later denied that.

On March 16, the Brigade engaged in a war of words with the al-Nusra Front in Lebanon, believed to be a local franchise of the Syria-based, Qaida-linked al-Nusra Front.

The dispute erupted after both groups claimed responsibility on Twitter for a deadly suicide bombing that rocked the Bekaa town of al-Nabi Othman.

The Brigade has claimed responsibility for several rocket and bomb attacks inside Lebanon, the last of which were the suicide blasts in Dahr al-Baydar and Raouche's Duroy Hotel.

Y.R.

M.T.