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Syria-Lebanon-Iran

Top Ain el-Hilweh Extremist in Army's Custody

2018-09-19

[AnNahar] Paleostinian factions on Tuesday jugged I ain't sayin' nuttin' widdout me mout'piece! notorious runaway Bahaa Hujeir in the al-Tireh neighborhood in the Ein el-Hellhole Paleostinian refugee camp, the National News Agency said. "He is accused of belonging to the (al-Qaeda-linked) Abdullah Azzam Brigades ... Leb's current al-Qaeda affiliate, named after a guy whose car the current head of al-Qaeda had boomed... and has been handed over to Lebanese Army intelligence agents," NNA added. TV networks said Hujeir is suspected of having ties to Mouein Abu Dahr, one of two jacket wallahs who attacked the Iranian embassy in Beirut in November 2013. "The security operation carried out by the Intelligence Directorate required weeks of planning, follow-up, surveillance and security maneuvers," al-Jadeed TV reported. "He was the mufti of the Abdullah Azzam Brigades and had been hiding in the camp for several years amid several attempts by his father to hand him over to Lebanese authorities," the TV network added. Al-Jadeed also published a picture showing Hujeir and Abu Dahr along with a number of young men "most of whom were later involved in suicide kabooms."

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Syria-Lebanon-Iran

Eyewitness reveals details of Nusra Front founder in Syria

2016-12-26

[EN.ZAMANALWSL.NET] The Syrian writer Yahya Bader, has revealed, for the first time, information about Majid al-Majid, powerful al-Qaeda leader, as he knew him in person and dealt with him before knowing his identity and his death in Leb January 2014. Bader explained that he since the beginning of the Syrian revolution, has worked in Istanbul in aid a relief. In 2012, one of his friends from Rihaniyah visited him with a Saudi man called "Abo Yusuf- Majid al-Majid" and asked him to help him in his work aimed to help the revolution. Engineer Yahya detailed that he met Abo Yusuf 4 times, confirming he used to come from Beirut airport, but he did not know the name he used on Passport. Bader confirmed that al-Majid was very generous in supporting the revolution, as he mentioned that he had been able to donate $ 20 million monthly to support the military groups. "I thought he was supporting the Free Syrian Army ... the more palatable version of the Syrian insurgency, heavily influenced by the Moslem Brüderbund... , but I discovered that he supported foreign groups, which made me get away from him" Activist Bader confirmed that al-Majid was the one who founded al-Qaeda affiliated Nusra front, "Fatah al-Islam A Syrian-incubated al-Qaeda work-alike that they think can be turned off if no longer needed to keep the Lebanon pot stirred. Front" in Syria. Bader confirmed that al-Majid was tossed in the slammer You have the right to remain silent... in December 26, 2013, and he was moved to the military hospital because of deterioration of his health, as he was suffering of renal failure an needed dialysis, and died in January 2014, in unexplained conditions, claimed to be due to his disease. Majid al-Majid, was on Soddy Arabia ...a kingdom taking up the bulk of the Arabian peninsula. Its primary economic activity involves exporting oil and soaking Islamic rubes on the annual hajj pilgrimage. The country supports a large number of princes in whatcha might call princely splendor. When the oil runs out the rest of the world is going to kick sand in the Soddy national face... 's most-wanted-gunnies list. He led the Abdullah Azzam Brigades ... Leb's current al-Qaeda affiliate, named after a guy whose car the current head of al-Qaeda had boomed... that claimed a double suicide kaboom on the Iranian embassy in southern Beirut in November 2013, that left 23 people dead. Abdullah Azzam Brigade based itself in the Ein el-Hilweh Paleostinian refugee camp, near Sidon. it was designated as a terrorist organization in 2012 by the US and freezed its assets. Media reports said that Majid al-Majid had pledged allegiance to the leader of al-Qaeda affiliate Nusra Front in Syria.

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Syria-Lebanon-Iran

Suspect Supplying Militants with Weapons Arrested in Majdal Anjar, Lebanon

2016-12-01

[AnNahar] The Army Intelligence conducted a raid in the Bekaa town of Majdel Anjar and incarcerated Drop the gat, Rocky, or you're a dead 'un! a man suspected of providing his brother, affiliated to al-Qaeda linked Abdullah Azzam Brigades ... Leb's current al-Qaeda affiliate, named after a guy whose car the current head of al-Qaeda had boomed... , with weapons, the National News Agency reported Wednesday. The military arrested Omar H.Kh on charges of providing his brother, R.Kh., and affiliate of Abdullah Azzam Brigares with explosives and weapons, NNA said. LBCI identified the man as Omar Hassan Kharroub, and his brother as Radwan. Rawdan is the major suspect in the 2014 bombing attacks that targeted the Beirut area of al-Tayyouneh and the bombing in Dahr al-Baydar in the eastern Bekaa. LBCI added that the army confiscated weapons, explosives and a surface-to-air missile.

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Syria-Lebanon-Iran

Report: Fugitives in Ain el-Hilweh Successively Surrendering

2016-08-12

[AnNahar] Some promising developments have emerged lately in the Paleostinian refugee camp of Ein el-Hellhole after several runaways, who sought refuge in the camp, turned themselves in to the army intelligence the recent was Mohammed Taha, son of Tawfiq Taha the commander of Abdullah Azzam Brigades ... Leb's current al-Qaeda affiliate, named after a guy whose car the current head of al-Qaeda had boomed... and another runaway of the Darwish family, al-Mustaqbal ... the Future Movement, political party led by Saad Hariri... daily reported on Tuesday. Paleostinian sources following up closely on the issue, assured that more runaways will turn themselves in and that the army checkpoints that were erected at the entrances to the camp saw nine runaways surrender in less than two weeks. There are around 600 people of different nationalities inside the camp classified as wanted by the Lebanese authorities. They added that there are around 600 people of different nationalities inside the camp classified as wanted by the Lebanese authorities. They did not rule out the prospect that high-risk runaways might consider turning themselves in "since the time is more appropriate than ever." The daily said it obtained information that "some of these runaways have opened channels with Paleostinian and Lebanese parties in order to test the waters." A senior Paleostinian official pointed out that the wave of surrenders can only be seen as positive since it vents the security pressure that has been burdening the camp and its residents. It heralds for a new and advanced stage of Lebanese-Paleostinian cooperation in countering any attempts that aim to shake the security situation in the camp, or use it as a conduit to harm Leb's stability and safety. The official added that what is happening in Ein el-Hellhole delivers a two-target message: towards Leb's neighboring countries that the camp has been sprung of guilt of being a harbor for runaways, and a reassurance message to runaways, who wish to surrender, that the opportunity became available to them today more than ever. However, those who apply themselves too closely to little things often become incapable of great things... some factors have contributed in encouraging the runaways to surrender, most notably the good treatment given by the army to the detained in addition to the psychological and social pressures and the dire living conditions they experience in the camp. I don't recall -- is Ein al Hellhole the Palestinian "refugee camp" that ISIS was gradually taking over, or was it a different one in Lebanon?

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Syria-Lebanon-Iran

Two Airport Employees Held for Contacting 'Terrorist Groups'

2016-04-11

[AnNahar] The Airport Security Apparatus has locked away Drop the rod and step away witcher hands up! two Lebanese airport employees on charges of "communicating with terrorist groups," state-run National News Agency said on Sunday. The two employees were apprehended "two days ago," NNA said. "They were employed at a company that provides services at the airport," the agency added. "Investigations are underway to unveil more information and the probe is being conducted in utmost confidentiality," NNA said. LBCI television identified the two employees as A. al-Ahmed and Kh. Samay, saying they worked for the Middle East Airports Services SAL company (MEAS), a subsidiary of Leb's national carrier Middle East Airlines. MEAS is in charge of operating and maintaining the facilities of the Rafik Hariri International Airport. The two employees' tasks involved "delivering luggage to planes in a direct manner," LBCI said. "The two detainees are currently being held at the army's Intelligence Directorate and one of them had worked at the airport for more than six years while the other has occupied his post for the past year and a half," the TV network added. "Al-Ahmed raised suspicions after a weapon was seized from his drawer at the airport," LBCI said. The TV network said the weapon was smuggled to the airport despite the fact that "workers and airliner cabin crews undergo security checks" prior to their entry to the airport's restricted areas. "Al-Ahmed is a relative of the suspect M. al-Ahmed, the main suspect in the case of the Naameh booby-trapped car and the Bir al-Abed and Rweiss bombings," LBCI said. "M. al-Ahmed is a member of the Qaeda-linked Abdullah Azzam Brigades ... Leb's current al-Qaeda affiliate, named after a guy whose car the current head of al-Qaeda had boomed... and one of the associates of detained terror criminal mastermind Naim Abbas," the TV network added, noting that the man has been sentenced to hard labor for life in absentia and that he has sought refuge at the Ein el-Hellhole Paleostinian refugee camp. Interior Minister Nouhad al-Mashnouq has recently vowed that he will exert efforts to address "security gaps" at Beirut's Rafik Hariri International Airport, hours after jacket wallahs killed 35 people and maimed over 200 at Brussels airport and a metro train. He warned that the said gaps "might be equivalent to those that were present at the Sharm el-Sheikh airport and led to the bombing of the Russian plane, according to Western reports." Mashnouq also noted that he had instructed Airport Security Chief Brig. Gen. George Doumit to "step up security readiness at Beirut's airport," while calling on all security agencies to "maintain the highest levels of alert and vigilance and boost preventative measures." "The only choice will be to ask the Ministry of Finance to earmark the necessary funds in order to sign the needed contracts, in coordination with the Public Works and Transport Ministry," the minister added. He said "administrative obstacles that have been running for around 20 months" have prevented the government from "inking necessary contracts that have to do with repairing the airport's fence and buying advanced equipment and devices for baggage scanning."

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Syria-Lebanon-Iran

Senior Qaeda-linked figure captured in Lebanon

2016-01-16

[Ynet] Lebanese security forces said on Thursday they had nabbed a senior member of an al Qaeda-linked murderous Moslem group that has carried out attacks in the country. A security source described Bilal Mezher as an "important catch", close to Sirajeddine Zureiqat, head of the Abdullah Azzam Brigades ... Leb's current al-Qaeda affiliate, named after a guy whose car the current head of al-Qaeda had boomed... . Mezher, who is Lebanese, was arrested in a special operation in Naameh area south of Beirut. "This special operation is part of a wider campaign to arrest gunnies and all those linked to terrorist groups," the source told Rooters. The Abdullah Azzam group, named after a Paleostinian regarded as the one-time spiritual mentor of al Qaeda chief the late Osama bin Laden ... who is now neither a strong horse nor a weak horse, but a dead horse... , has claimed attacks across the region including a double suicide assault on Iran's Beirut embassy in 2014. The Azzam Brigades are designated by the US State Department as a foreign terrorist organization.

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Syria-Lebanon-Iran

Military Court Jails Daftardar 7 Years, Fustoq 3 Years and Sabbagh 2 Years

2015-04-21

[AnNahar] Five Islamist bandidos bully boyz were handed jail terms ranging from two to seven years on Monday over terror-related charges. State-run National News Agency said the Military Court sentenced senior Abdullah Azzam Brigades ... Leb's current al-Qaeda affiliate, named after a guy whose car the current head of al-Qaeda had boomed... official Jamal Daftardar to seven years in jail. The Qaeda-linked Death Eater was jugged Drop the rod and step away witcher hands up! in the western Bekaa region on January 15, 2014. He had been charged with belonging to a terrorist group, plotting to carry out terrorist attacks across Leb and forging Syrian, Lebanese and Paleostinian identification papers. The man certainly kept busy... The court also handed down a 3-year sentence to radical holy man Sheikh Omar Bakri Fustoq, who was arrested in Aley on May 25, 2014. Fustoq had been charged with "belonging to armed terrorist groups; training bandidos bully boyz on arms and explosives; seeking to create an Islamic emirate in the North; delivering religious sermons containing insults against the state and the army; and incitement to civil war." Bakri lived in Britannia for almost 20 years before settling in Leb in 2005 after he was banned from London under government curbs following the underground and bus bombings that year. The Syrian-born holy man, who also holds Lebanese nationality, had denied having any links to al-Qaeda although he said he believed in "the same ideology." Also on Monday, the Military Court sentenced prominent Tripoli ...a confusing city, one end of which is located in Lebanon and the other end of which is the capital of Libya. Its chief distinction is being mentioned in the Marine Hymn... gunman Hussam al-Sabbagh to two years in jail. His bodyguard Shadi Zaylaa received a similar verdict. Sabbagh was arrested in Tripoli's Abi Samra neighborhood in July 2014. Known as Abu Hassan, Sabbagh holds Lebanese and Australian citizenships and is wanted by authorities in both countries for belonging to al-Qaeda, most notably the Fatah al-Islam A Syrian-incubated al-Qaeda work-alike that they think can be turned off if no longer needed to keep the Lebanon pot stirred. group. Influenced by al-Qaeda's mentality during the United States' invasion of Afghanistan in 2001, he joined the group in fighting U.S. troops in the country. He also sent members of al-Qaeda through Leb and Syria to fight in Iraq against invading U.S. troops in 2003, according to MTV. In recent years, Sabbagh was heavily involved in the festivities between Tripoli's rival neighborhoods of Bab al-Tabbaneh and Jabal Mohsen. The Military Court also sentenced Mohammed Bassam Hammoud to five years in jail. According to NNA, the five men were convicted of "belonging to an armed terrorist group with the aim of carrying out acts of terror as well as the possession of arms and explosives."

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Syria-Lebanon-Iran

Leb: 'Hoblos Confessions' Lead to Arrest of Syrian in al-Zahriyeh

2015-04-13

[AnNahar] A Syrian national was placed in durance vile Drop the rosco, Muggsy, or you're one with the ages! Sunday by the Internal Security Forces in the northern city of Tripoli ...a confusing city, one end of which is located in Lebanon and the other end of which is the capital of Libya. Its chief distinction is being mentioned in the Marine Hymn... , following "confessions" by detained Islamist holy man Sheikh Khaled Hoblos, media reports said. "The ISF Intelligence Branch arrested Ahmed Mohammed Abdo, 42, following confessions by Khaled Hoblos," LBCI television reported. Voice of Leb radio (100.5) meanwhile said Abdo went by the nicknames al-Ishmawi and Abou Musaab and that he worked at a fast food restaurant in al-Zahriyeh. The pan-Arab daily al-Hayat had reported Sunday that "a third suspect" was revealed to have been seized during the arrest of Hoblos on Thursday. It did not identify the suspect, adding however that he belongs to the same Lion of Islam group as that of Osama Mansour, the dangerous Lion of Islam who was killed during the operation to arrest Hoblos. A security source stressed the secrecy of the investigations with Hoblos and the two other detainees. Hoblos, his driver Amir al-Kurdi, and the third suspect were arrested during an ISF Intelligence Branch operation in Tripoli late on Thursday. Osama Mansour and his lover companion Ahmed al-Nazer were killed in the operation. Mansour was the leader of a group affiliated with the al-Nusra ...the current nom de guerre of al-Qaeda in the Levant, which isn't to be confused with al-Qaeda in Iraq and the Levant... Front, al-Qaeda's Syria franchise. Soon after the security operation, Sirajeddine Zureiqat, a so-called front man of the al-Qaeda-linked Abdullah Azzam Brigades ... Leb's current al-Qaeda affiliate, named after a guy whose car the current head of al-Qaeda had boomed... , warned security forces of targeting Islamists in Tripoli. Hoblos and Mansour had been wanted for taking part in festivities with the army in Tripoli in October 2014 and were suspected of links to jihadist organizations in Syria. Mansour, along with prominent runaway Shadi al-Mawlawi, was wanted for leading gangs that engaged in deadly gunbattles with the army in Tripoli and its surrounding areas in October. Mansour and al-Mawlawi were also charged with recruiting people for the purpose of carrying out terrorist attacks, assaulting the army and planting bombs.

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Terror Networks

Report: Hizbullah Supervising, Funding Qaida-Linked Fighters

2015-02-23

Fighting them with one hand, allied with them on the other. How classically Arab. The enemy of my enemy? [AnNahar] Hizbullah ...Party of God, a Leb militia inspired, founded, funded and directed by Iran. Hizbullah refers to itself as The Resistance and purports to defend Leb against Israel, with whom it has started and lost one disastrous war to date, though it did claim victory... has reportedly supervised and funded fighters planning to target U.S. interests in Soddy Arabia ...a kingdom taking up the bulk of the Arabian peninsula. Its primary economic activity involves exporting oil and soaking Islamic rubes on the annual hajj pilgrimage. The country supports a large number of princes in whatcha might call princely splendor. When the oil runs out the rest of the world is going to kick sand in the Soddy national face... , the United Arab of Emirates and Jordan. Sources told the pan-Arab daily Asharq al-Awsat on Sunday that there is new evidence proving Iran's involvement with al-Qaeda and Nusra Front after Tehran embraced a number of fighters scheming to attack U.S. interests in Riyadh, Dubai and Amman. The sources pointed out that the fighters have been moving through Iranian cities, including Tehran, Mashhad and Zahdan, while Hizbullah supervised their training and pledged to fund them. Asharq al-Awsat revealed that Saudi national Saleh al-Qarawi, the former leader of the Qaeda-linked Abdullah Azzam Brigades ... Leb's current al-Qaeda affiliate, named after a guy whose car the current head of al-Qaeda had boomed... , is running al-Qaeda's operations from Iran. Qarawi, who is also known as "Najm al-Kheir," planned with Saudi national Abdul Mohsen al-Sharekh, one of al-Nusra ...the current nom de guerre of al-Qaeda in the Levant, which isn't to be confused with al-Qaeda in Iraq and the Levant... 's top strategists and an al-Qaeda controller in Syria, to kidnap foreigners in Saudi Arabia but they didn't carry out their scheme. Al-Sharekh is one of Saudi Arabia's most wanted terrorists, he has previously served in al-Qaeda's Iran-based network and as a key financial controller for al-Qaeda in Pakistain. The United States and United Nations ...the Oyster Bay money pit... recently imposed sanctions on him. Qarawi also planned with other accomplices to target U.S. interests in Saudi Arabia and the bombing of a U.S. base in Jordan. According to the daily, a Jordanian identified with his first name "Firas" suggested on Qarawi to target a U.S. compound and three vehicles but the operation failed after Amman security forces busted the scheme. Qarawi also voiced support to a plan to target the U.S. embassy in Dubai by a drone or a jacket wallah flying a training jet, but the operation also failed.

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Syria-Lebanon-Iran

Palestinian Held for Transferring Explosives to Ain el-Hilweh

2014-12-30

[AnNahar] A Paleostinian man accused of transferring explosives to Sidon's Ain al-Hilweh Paleostinian refugee camp was tossed in the clink Yez got nuttin' on me, coppers! Nuttin'! in northern Leb on Monday. ?The intelligence department of the General Security arrested a Paleostinian from al-Rifai family in northern Leb,? state-run National News Agency reported. ?He is accused of transferring explosives to the Ein el-Hellhole camp,? the NNA added. The army and other security agencies have recently arrested dangerous runaways who were planning kabooms inside Leb, the last of which was Mahmoud Abou Abbas, one of the Qaeda-linked Abdullah Azzam Brigades ... Leb's current al-Qaeda affiliate, named after a guy whose car the current head of al-Qaeda had boomed... leaders. Abou Abbas has been described as ?another Naim Abbas,? another top leader of the Azzam Brigades who was arrested by the army last February in Beirut's Corniche al-Mazraa. Abbas was charged with being part of a terrorist cell that prepared and transferred booby-trapped cars from Syria to Leb to blow them up in residential areas, in addition to plotting to commit terrorist acts inside the country. The Ein el-Hellhole camp is known to shelter scores of Islamist runaways, such as bad boy holy man Ahmed al-Asir ...Leb Salafist holy man with the usual grouch against Shiites. Currently on the run, he seems intent on reigniting the Leb civil war... and al-Nusra ...the current nom de guerre of al-Qaeda in the Levant, which isn't to be confused with al-Qaeda in Iraq and the Levant... Front-linked murderous Moslem Shadi al-Mawlawi, who took part in the recent battle against the army in Tripoli ...a confusing city, one end of which is located in Lebanon and the other end of which is the capital of Libya. Its chief distinction is being mentioned in the Marine Hymn... . By long-standing convention, the Lebanese army does not enter the country's 12 refugee camps, leaving security inside to the Paleostinians themselves.

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Syria-Lebanon-Iran

Report: Security Intensified in North over Fears of Terrorist Attack against Military

2014-12-29

[AnNahar] Security measures have been intensified in the North amid reports that terrorist groups are seeking to attack a military post in the area, said As Safir newspaper on Saturday. A security source told the daily that snuffies are planning on attacking the post that is located near a major tourist resort south of the city of Tripoli ...a confusing city, one end of which is located in Lebanon and the other end of which is the capital of Libya. Its chief distinction is being mentioned in the Marine Hymn... . Furthermore, it cited the recent infiltration attempts by gunnies into the northeastern border region of Arsal as a sign that these forces are seeking to break the army's siege of the area. They are trying to sway the balance of power in their favor following the army's increased presence in the area given the festivities it waged with gunnies in Arsal in August, explained the source. Meanwhile, ...back at the wrecked scow, Agent 49 felt gingerly for his head. It was still there. He had been hoping differently... another security source told As Safir that the recently detained Mahmoud Abou Abbas can be described as ?another Naim Abbas.? Arrested by Army Intelligence in the town of Majdal Anjar, the source said that he is the criminal mastermind and executor of a number of bombings in Leb. He helped in transporting bombs, terrorists, and booby-trapped vehicles in the country. He is also linked to various terror groups and reportedly assisted the jacket wallahs behind the Dahr al-Baydar and Tayyouneh blasts that took place in June. Naim Abbas is a detained top official in the al-Qaeda-linked Abdullah Azzam Brigades ... Leb's current al-Qaeda affiliate, named after a guy whose car the current head of al-Qaeda had boomed... . He is charged with belonging to an armed terrorist group for the purpose of carrying out terrorist attacks and preparing and transporting booby-trapped vehicles from Syria to Leb to detonate them in residential areas. Three gunnies were killed overnight on Thursday when the army thwarted an attempt by bandidos holy warriors to infiltrate an area on the outskirts of Arsal. The nearby border is long and porous, and has proved an easy crossing point for smugglers, refugees and fighters. Tens of thousands of Syrian refugees are being hosted in the town, and opposition fighters have bases in the mountainous border area outside Arsal.

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Syria-Lebanon-Iran

Defected Syrian Soldier Held on Suspicion of Plotting Terror Acts

2014-12-24

[AnNahar] A defected Syrian soldier was tossed in the clink Drop the rod and step away witcher hands up! Tuesday by State Security agents in the northern region of Akkar on suspicion of plotting ?acts of sabotage? inside Leb. ?A patrol from the State Security's Qubayyat bureau managed to arrest Syrian national Hussein Mustafa Arab in the Nabaa area in the border region of Wadi Khaled, following investigations and a surveillance operation,? state-run National News Agency reported. ?He is a soldier who defected from the Syrian army and he is suspected of belonging to the Jund al-Sham group,? NNA said, adding that he is also accused of ?manufacturing and setting up bombs and bombs.? Several fake Syrian and Lebanese identification documents were found in his possession, the agency said. The detainee and the seized material will be referred to the relevant judicial authorities for further investigations. Since the beginning of the Syrian crisis in 2011, Wadi Khaled has witnessed infiltration by rebel fighters into Syria as well as shelling by Syrian forces on the Lebanese region's towns. The Lebanese army and the other security agencies have this month arrested several runaways accused of belonging to the Qaeda-linked Abdullah Azzam Brigades ... Leb's current al-Qaeda affiliate, named after a guy whose car the current head of al-Qaeda had boomed... and al-Nusra ...the current nom de guerre of al-Qaeda in the Levant, which isn't to be confused with al-Qaeda in Iraq and the Levant... Front and the Qaeda breakaway group Islamic State ...formerly ISIS or ISIL, depending on your preference. Before that al-Qaeda in Iraq, as shaped by Abu Musab Zarqawi. They're very devout, committing every atrocity they can find in the Koran and inventing a few more. They fling Allah around with every other sentence, but to hear the pols talk they're not really Moslems.... . Among those described as ?hefty catches? was the Iraqi woman Saja al-Dulaimi, whom the interior minister identified as a divorcee of Islamic State chief His Supreme Immensity, Caliph of the Faithful and Galactic Overlord, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi ...formerly merely the head of ISIL and a veteran of the Bagram jailhouse. Looks like a new messiah to bajillions of Moslems, like just another dead-eyed mass murder to the rest of us... . Dulaimi's arrest gave a new momentum to negotiations aimed at securing the release of around 25 Lebanese troops and coppers held by the IS and al-Nusra ...formally Jabhat an-Nusrah li-Ahli sh-Sham (Support Front for the People of the Levant), also known as al-Qaeda in the Levant. They aim to establish a pan-Arab caliphate. Not the same one as the Islamic State, though .. ... . The servicemen were taken hostage during deadly August festivities between the two groups and the Lebanese army in and around the Bekaa border town of Arsal.

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