As the Syrian dilemma continues, neighboring Lebanon is getting more and more of the spillover that’s becoming an imminent threat to its already fragile security. Since the end of the bloody 15-year civil war in 1990, Lebanon’s army has been one of the few elements that most Lebanese agree on; the military establishment was, to many, the only savior any time the situation got tense, or threats grew, despite the army’s humble capabilities.

On Oct. 16, a Twitter account linked to Jabhat al-Nusra, also known as al-Qaeda in the Levant, posted a video that shows defecting Lebanese army Cpl. Abdallah Shehadeh in front of a Lebanese army Humvee filled with weapons and ammunition, which he took when he decided to join Jabhat al-Nusra.

“These machine guns, ammunition and night goggles are now bounties for the militants,” he said, adding that he defected from the Lebanese army “that is directed by 'Iranian Hezb Alat' (Hezbollah).” He noted that he's joining “the ranks of 'al-Mujahedeen'” and called on Jabhat al-Nusra leader Abu Mohammed Al-Golani to take the initiative and enter Lebanon “to counter Hezbollah and the Lebanese army that is affiliated with it and to free our people because there are no men in Lebanon." He concluded: “Hezbollah entered Syria and killed the people. So it is natural that the mujahedeen enter Lebanon to kill Hezbollah and their followers.”

Shehadeh wasn’t the first to defect from the Lebanese army, and isn’t expected to be the last. At least six soldiers made the decision in the last three months to join al-Nusra or the Islamic State (IS). “These are isolated incidents,” said Wehbi Katicha, a former Lebanese general and an adviser to the head of the Lebanese forces party, Samir Geagea. “We can’t call this [mass] defection; a [mass] defection needs a whole battalion or regiment, and this won’t affect the army at any level. The army went through worse days before, yet maintained its unity, so there’s nothing to be concerned about,” he added.