Report: Army Thwarts Plan for an 'Islamic Emirate' in Baalbek Outskirts

Security sources revealed that the Lebanese army was able to thwart the objective of Islamic State militias to set an “Islamic Emirate” on the outskirts of Ras Baalbek.

“The Lebanese army's heroic confrontation with armed groups in Tallet al-Hamra in the outskirts of Ras Baalbek prevented the militants from implementing their scheme,” An Nahar daily quoted the sources on Monday.

“The Lebanese army seized some documents and maps from Ghayyath Jomaa, who defected from the Free Syrian Army and vowed allegiance to the Islamic State two months ago, revealing that the militants had a three-target plan,” the sources added on condition of anonymity.

“The first scheme aimed to attack army positions in Tallet al-Hamra and Emm Khaled, and other groups were meant to loot and take hostages in Ras Baalbek.”

Their second target was to “open a roadway between Ras Baalbek and al-Qaa then to Syria's al-Qosayr in order to establish an Islamic Emirate there,” they stated.

“The militants third scheme aimed to open a kind of passage in the East Mountain Range after completely blocking the Arsal road that leads to the outskirts.”

The army announced on Friday that eight of its troops were killed and others wounded in clashes with terrorists in the Tallat al-Hamra region on the outskirts of Ras Baalbek in the eastern Bekaa.

Fierce clashes erupted between the two sides and the army managed at noon to seize control of the area and repel the gunmen.

D.A.

G.K.