The Islamic State is Attempting to Capture Areas Inside Lebanon

The General Director of Lebanese Security Forces states that the Islamic State group is trying to seize villages within Lebanese territory in the Qalamoun mountains, located on the Syrian-Lebanese border, to establish new bases and support its forces. General Abbas Ibrahim told Reuters on January 3 that the military forces of Lebanon are on high alert to prevent the capture of Lebanese areas in this mountainous region, which lies on the border with Syria. The movements of the Islamic State forces have once again raised concerns that Lebanon may face the danger of another civil war. The Islamic State (ISIS) has carried out attacks on the borders of Lebanon, resulting in casualties. In addition, the al-Nusra Front has also had bloody clashes with Hezbollah forces. The clashes and events along the Syrian-Lebanese border have prompted some analysts to suggest that Iran may also react. Furthermore, Lebanon is hosting a large group of Syrian refugees. Beirut has recently announced the arrest of a woman and a girl who are the former wife and child of Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, the leader of the Islamic State. General Ibrahim told Reuters that the Islamic State has recently increased its number of forces in Qalamoun; "The Islamic State does not want to dominate Qalamoun... but they want to use this area to support their forces." According to the General Director of Lebanese Security Forces, Islamic State militants have become the main armed force in Qalamoun. General Ibrahim warned last November that Lebanon is facing "the most dangerous terrorist plot in the entire region" in its battle against Islamists. He himself survived a suicide attack last June and stated that the country's forces have arrested a group of militants and destroyed some of their networks, although not all of these activities have necessarily been reported to the media.