Report: Military Abductions Feared in Arsal as Sleeper Cells Mobilize

Lebanon's military and security agencies have taken the needed measures following threats that some “sleeper cells” committed to terror groups in the border town of Arsal could mobilize against the army in kidnap operations, al-Joumhouria daily reported on Monday.

A military source who spoke on condition of anonymity told the daily that “confessions made by one of the detainees said that sleeper cells in a number of encampments in Arsal, around 150 members, were planning to carry out security operations against the army's units deployed in the area, cutting off all supply and communication routes.

“This information is not accurate, at least until now,” stressed the source “but the agencies concerned can not condone any information of any kind, in order to ensure the security and safety of its members.”

In August 2014, the Islamic State group and al-Nusra Front abducted around 30 servicemen during clashes with the army in Arsal.

Four of the hostages were executed. Sixteen held by al-Nusra were freed in December 2015 through a Qatari-mediated deal that also included a prisoner swap to release a number of inmates from Lebanese jails.

Nine hostages are still being held by the IS and their families do not know much about their fate.

On the ongoing battle in Arsal where Hizbullah is waging an operation to "eliminate" terrorists from the outskirts of the town, the source assured that the Lebanese army is still confronting infiltration attempts by the militants towards the town of Arsal.

"The army entered yesterday with the Red Cross to the camps of Wadi Hmeid where they transported a number of women, children and wounded to the town Arsal under the supervision of the United Nations delegate," he pointed out.

“In cooperation with the army, the Red Cross has moved in some aid to the camps of Arsal,” he stated.

“Intelligence Army units have carried out an operation Sunday morning and arrested an arms dealer who used to provide the Islamic State with weapons," concluded the source.

The report comes amid a major Hizbullah offensive in the town's outskirts against al-Qaida's former Syria affiliate Fateh al-Sham Front. Hizbullah intends to wage an operation against the IS group in the border region in the coming days, according to media reports.

Lebanon's army has not officially announced its participation in the offensive, but said Friday it had targeted "terrorists" in the area.