Lebanon Arrests Fugitive Radical Cleric

Lebanese authorities announced on Saturday, August 24, that the country's security forces arrested Ahmad al-Assir, a radical Sunni cleric, at Beirut airport. The National News Agency of Lebanon reported that airport security officials detained Mr. al-Assir when he attempted to leave the country with a fake passport. The agency stated that this fugitive cleric was wanted and intended to go to Egypt. According to Reuters, Ahmad al-Assir is accused of leading a deadly attack on the Lebanese army in the city of Sidon in 2013, during which armed individuals under his command killed 12 Lebanese soldiers. Supporters of Ahmad al-Assir accuse the Lebanese army of siding with Hezbollah. Hezbollah is currently involved in the Syrian civil war, assisting forces loyal to Bashar al-Assad. As the Syrian civil war intensified and Hezbollah's involvement in the conflict increased, Ahmad al-Assir also escalated his opposition to Hezbollah, which led to greater support for him among Sunni Muslims in Lebanon. Ahmad al-Assir has been sentenced to death in absentia. Last year, this radical cleric called on Sunni military forces in Lebanon to separate from the Lebanese army in a video posted on YouTube. According to Reuters, since the onset of the conflict in Syria, Sunni militants have repeatedly attacked Lebanese army forces. The last deadly clash occurred in the city of Tripoli in northern Lebanon last fall, resulting in the deaths of at least 11 Lebanese soldiers. Last year, Islamist militants affiliated with the 'Jabhat al-Nusra' group in Syria attacked a border town in Lebanon, capturing 33 soldiers and police officers. This group still holds 23 of these individuals in custody.