A Military Court in Lebanon Sentences 106 People to Death

A judge in a military court in Lebanon on Wednesday, May 29, sentenced 106 individuals to death for their involvement in the clashes two years ago between the country's army and Islamists. According to the French news agency and citing a judicial source, Judge 'Najaat Abou Shakra' sentenced 73 Syrian men, 32 Lebanese, and one Palestinian for membership in 'terrorist organizations' as well as for attacking and killing Lebanese soldiers and police officers and for kidnapping in the city of Arsal. The report states that 77 of the defendants are in prison, while 29 others who have not yet been arrested were sentenced in absentia. One of them is Abu Malik al-Tali, the leader of the 'Qalamoun Syria' group affiliated with al-Qaeda and the al-Nusra Front. In August 2014, the Lebanese army clashed with members of the Islamic State group and the al-Nusra Front in the city of Arsal, leading to intense fighting. Arsal is located 124 kilometers northeast of Beirut and is predominantly a Sunni city. According to the French news agency, after the Islamic State and al-Nusra Front forces retreated from Arsal, they took 30 soldiers and police officers hostage. Eventually, after lengthy negotiations last winter, 16 of these individuals were exchanged for ISIS prisoners in Lebanon. Reuters reported in August 2014 that at least 11 Lebanese soldiers were killed in the battle between the Lebanese army and Islamic extremists who had attacked the border town of Arsal from Syria. Lebanese media reported that most of the attackers were members of the al-Nusra Front, but Reuters also reported the presence of ISIS forces among them. Lebanese media reported that in the clashes between the army and the Islamist rebel forces, 40 of the attackers were killed and several Lebanese soldiers were captured. Following the outbreak of civil wars in Syria, over one million Syrian citizens have sought refuge in Lebanon and are living in the country.