Lebanese Nusra Militant Found Dead as Group Fights IS near Arsal, Ras Baalbek

A Lebanese al-Nusra Front member was found dead in the outskirts of the northeastern border town of Arsal on Monday amid fierce clashes between the Qaida-linked group and jihadists from the Islamic State organization, the National News Agency reported.

Lebanese national Majed Mohammed Abdulmajid al-Hujeiri, aka Abou al-Barae, was killed in battles between al-Nusra and the IS, NNA said.

His corpse has been lying in the outskirts since Sunday evening when the battles erupted between the two groups, the agency added.

“Hujeiri belonged to the terrorist group of al-Nusra and has been residing in the town. He was part of the group of Abou Taqiyeh,” it pointed out.

Islamist cleric Mustafa al-Hujeiri, aka Abou Taqiyeh, was indicted and arrested in 2014 on charges of belonging to al-Nusra Front with the aim of carrying out terrorist acts.

On Monday afternoon, NNA said fierce clashes were underway between al-Nusra and the IS in the outskirts of Arsal and Ras Baalbek and that light- and heavy-caliber weapons were being used.

The fighting has left "a large number of militants from both sides dead or wounded," the agency said.

It said the clashes erupted when the IS group launched a dawn attack on al-Nusra's posts in the outskirts of Arsal and Ras Baalbek, killing and wounding several of the Qaida-linked groups's militants.

The IS "summarily executed some militants, including prominent officials," NNA said.

"In response, large groups from al-Nusra Front, led by Abou Malek al-Talli, waged a counter-attack after calling in reinforcements," the agency added, noting that the Qaida-linked group was trying to recapture posts it lost in the areas of al-Zamarani, al-Ajram, Qurnat al-Hashishat, al-Malahi and Wadi Shbib.

Ever since the Syrian revolt erupted in March 2011, Arsal has served as a key conduit for refugees, militants and wounded people fleeing strife-torn Syria.

Jihadists from al-Nusra and the Islamic State group are entrenched in the town's outskirts.

In August 2014, they stormed the town and engaged in bloody battles with the Lebanese army following the arrest of a senior IS militant.

The jihadists withdrew after a ceasefire, but took with them several dozen hostages from the army and police, four of whom have since been executed.

Al-Nusra freed 16 servicemen in December 2015 in a swap deal with the Lebanese government that involved the release of Islamists and women from Lebanon's jails.

Nine soldiers remain in the captivity of the IS.

D.A./Y.R.