Islamic State sets sights on sea in Lebanon - Al-Monitor: The Middle Eastʼs leading independent news source since 2012

Esperance Ghanem

Esperance Ghanem

Oct 23, 2014

A Lebanese army soldier sits atop an army vehicle at the entrance of the Sunni Muslim border town of Arsal, in eastern Bekaa Valley, as smoke rises during clashes between Lebanese army soldiers and Islamist militants August 4, 2014. The Lebanese army advanced into a border town that was attacked by Islamists in an incursion from Syria at the weekend, finding the bodies of 50 militants, a Lebanese security official said. REUTERS/Hassan Abdallah (LEBANON - Tags: POLITICS CIVIL UNREST MILITARY TPX IMAGE — A Lebanese army soldier sits atop an army vehicle at the entrance of the Sunni Muslim border town of Arsal, in the eastern Bekaa Valley, as smoke rises during clashes between Lebanese army soldiers and Islamist militants, Aug. 4, 2014. — REUTERS/Hassan Abdallah

عربي

Forces loyal to Syria's President Bashar al-Assad are seen at al-Sakhra village in Qalamoun Mountains, northeast of Damascus, after taking control of the village from rebel fighters April 14, 2014. Syrian soldiers backed by Hezbollah fighters recaptured the town of Maaloula, north of Damascus, on Monday, military sources and state television said, further squeezing rebels' supply routes through the Qalamoun mountains into Lebanon. REUTERS/Khaled al-Hariri (SYRIA - Tags: MILITARY POLITICS CONFLICT CIVIL UN

The battle at Qalamoun

Jean Aziz (Lebanon Pulse)

Jean Aziz (Lebanon Pulse)

Jaysh al-Islam (Army of Islam) rebel fighters walk inside a trench at the Tal-Kurdi frontline in the Eastern Ghouta of Damascus, May 10, 2015. Jaysh al-Islam (Army of Islam) fighters said that this was an operation to take control of the highway connecting Damascus to Homs, and that they have made advances in Tal-Kurdi. REUTERS/Amer Almohibany - RTX1CD08

IS fights for its window to the Mediterranean

Esperance Ghanem

Esperance Ghanem

Lebanon's Hezbollah members carry the coffins of two of their comrades, who were killed in clashes with fighters from the Nusra Front in eastern Lebanon, during their funeral in Baalbek, in the Bekaa valley October 6, 2014. Ten fighters from Lebanon's Shi'ite Hezbollah group were killed in clashes with fighters from al-Qaeda's Syrian wing in eastern Lebanon on Sunday, a source close to the group said on Monday. The Qaeda fighters, who see Hezbollah as among their chief foes, attacked a large area stretching

Jihadists target Hezbollah strongholds in Lebanon’s Bekaa

Jean Aziz (Lebanon Pulse)

Jean Aziz (Lebanon Pulse)

Lebanese army soldiers carry their weapons during clashes with Islamist militants in Tripoli October 25, 2014. Clashes erupted between the Lebanese army and Islamist militants on Saturday following explosions and gunfire in the streets of the northern city of Tripoli. At least two militants were killed and six soldiers - including an officer - were wounded in previous clashes between the army and Islamic gunmen in Tripoli on Friday. It was not immediately clear which group the militants represented. REUTERS

Tripoli battle foils IS expansion

Esperance Ghanem

Esperance Ghanem