Lebanese groups affiliated with IS

As-Safir drew a map of the field based on the pressure exercised by the Lebanese and Syrian armies and Hezbollah on terrorist organizations that daily attempt to breach border security in the Bekaa Valley. The map shows that takfiri militants now control approximately 992 square kilometers (383 square miles) of the Lebanese-Syria border along the eastern Anti-Lebanon mountains, including 450 square kilometers (173.7 square miles) stretching over 56 kilometers (34.7 miles) into Lebanese territory.

Militants in the badlands number approximately 3,000 gunmen, supplemented by others from refugee camps in Arsal and elsewhere. The main factions swearing allegiance to the Islamic State (IS) or Jabhat al-Nusra include the following:

– The al-Farouq Brigade, led by Mowafaq al-Jarban (also known as Abu el-Sous), who also happens to be deputy to Abu Omar al-Lubnani, IS’ acting military commander in the Qalamoun. The al-Farouq Brigade has pledged allegiance to IS. Membership in the brigade reached its apogee of approximately 5,000 militants during the Qusair battle, but the organization now only numbers a few dozen members.
– Liwa Fajr al-Islam (Dawn of Islam Brigades) also pledged allegiance to IS. It used to be commanded by Imad Jomaa, whose arrest by the Lebanese army ignited the Arsal attack of Aug. 2, 2014.
– The Green Brigade, led by the so-called Sheikh Nabil, swore allegiance to IS.
– Liwa’ al-Haq (Brigade of Righteousness), led by the so-called Abu Jaafar Amer, pledged allegiance to IS.
– The Turkmen Brigade, led by the so-called Abu Qassem, also pledged allegiance to IS.
– Division 11, led by Abu Hassan al-Rifai from Ras al-Maara, is one of the most prominent factions that pledged allegiance to Jabhat al-Nusra.
– The Ghuraba Brigade (Foreigners) pledged allegiance to Jabhat al-Nusra. Its current leader is Abu Hassan al-Talli and its members are now positioned in the Al Jibbeh and Asal al-Ward badlands.
– The Al-Omda Group also swore allegiance to Jabhat al-Nusra.
– The number of Free Syrian Army (FSA) members who pledged allegiance to IS and Jabhat al-Nusra amounts to approximately 1,500 (out of a total of 3,000). Among them are 750 who pledged allegiance to Jabhat al-Nusra and 800 to IS.