Lebanon Arrests Man Suspected of Transferring Money to ISIS in Syria
Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.
At a glance
- Lebanese security forces arrested a man suspected of transferring nearly half a million dollars to the ISIS group in Syria.
- The suspect allegedly stole $400,000 from his father's safe to fund ISIS operations.
- Investigations revealed the man was part of a cell coordinating funding for terror acts between Lebanon and Syria.
Lebanese security forces have apprehended a man accused of funneling a substantial sum of money to the Islamic State (ISIS) group in neighboring Syria. A judicial official, speaking anonymously to AFP, confirmed the arrest and stated that the suspect had stolen approximately $400,000 from his father's safe.
arrested a man who had stolen $400,000 from his father's safe, and investigations showed that he had transferred the money to Syria for ISIS.
Further investigations indicated that the individual was allegedly involved in a network operating between Lebanon and Syria. This cell reportedly included three other members currently imprisoned in Tripoli, Lebanon, who were responsible for coordinating with ISIS operatives in Syria. Two additional suspected members are believed to have fled into Syria across the porous border after the operation was uncovered.
part of a cell active between Lebanon and Syria
The group's alleged objective was to finance ISIS activities aimed at carrying out terrorist acts within Syria and potentially in Lebanon. This arrest follows previous actions by Lebanese authorities, including the detention of a Syrian ISIS commander in June and the arrest of the suspected ISIS leader in Lebanon last year, who was implicated in planning multiple operations. While ISIS was largely defeated territorially in Syria in 2019, remnants of the group continue to operate, occasionally claiming attacks primarily targeting Syrian security forces.
responsible for funding ISIS with the aim of carrying out terror acts, whether inside Syrian territory or in Lebanon
Originally published by Asharq Al-Awsat. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.