The Lebanese army has succeeded in securing the city of Tripoli following the widespread emergence of Islamist organizations and movements there in the absence of the state and its institutions. The step was lauded by all political parties as a chance for the Lebanese army to show its readiness to fight terror organizations. Its strength was boosted by some recently acquired capabilities in addition to its accumulated expertise since the unrest of Nahr al-Bared in May 2007, the first confrontation between the army and terrorist organizations.
The recent security events have undoubtedly confirmed that the Lebanese Sunni community — particularly in Tripoli — does not offer fertile soil for terrorism. However, this does not mean that Lebanon is safe from the dangers from the east, coming from countries such as Syria and Iraq.