Lebanon arrests a commander of Syria's Al-Nusra: security
31 minutes ago
File picture taken on October
25, 2013 shows members of jihadist group the Al-Nusra Front taking part
in a parade in the northern Syrian city of Aleppo (AFP Photo/Karam
al-Masri)
Baalbek (Lebanon) (AFP) - Lebanon's army on Wednesday
arrested a commander of Syria's Al-Nusra Front, a branch of Al-Qaeda and
ally of rebels fighting to bring down President Bashar al-Assad, a
security official told AFP.
"Army intelligence arrested an Al-Nusra commander
in the region of Masharia al-Qaa," which borders Syria, the source said
on condition of anonymity.
An army spokesman confirmed the report.
"A man suspected of being an Al-Nusra Front commander was arrested in the east of the country," the spokesman said, adding: "He is being interrogated."
Al-Nusra Front brings together Syrian and foreign jihadists. It has become an increasingly prominent player in Syria's war over the past year.
An army spokesman confirmed the report.
"A man suspected of being an Al-Nusra Front commander was arrested in the east of the country," the spokesman said, adding: "He is being interrogated."
Al-Nusra Front brings together Syrian and foreign jihadists. It has become an increasingly prominent player in Syria's war over the past year.
It is
staunchly opposed to the regime in Damascus but also to its ally in
Lebanon, Hezbollah, which has dispatched thousands of fighters into
Syria to join Assad's troops.
The
Lebanese army frequently arrests Lebanese, Palestinians and Syrians
suspected of links with extremist groups that have claimed
responsibility for a wave of deadly bomb attacks targeting Hezbollah
bastions.
The army has also jailed gunmen found near the Lebanese-Syrian border, and defused car bombs.
Extremist
groups such as the Abdullah Azzam brigades and Al-Nusra Front in
Lebanon -- believed to be linked to the Syrian Qaeda branch -- have
claimed recent attacks, blaming Hezbollah for entering the Syrian war.
Syria's
conflict has exacerbated Lebanon's sectarian and political divisions,
with most Shiites backing Hezbollah and most Sunnis supporting the
rebels.
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