A security source told Lebanese daily as-Safir that the assailants on the Lebanese army in Sidon are partisans of Ahmad al-Assir, whose group was engaged in fight with the military last June in Abra.

A security source told Lebanese daily as-Safir that the assailants on the Lebanese army in Sidon are partisans of Ahmad al-Assir, whose group was engaged in fight with the military last June in Abra.

The high-rank security source said that the group which attacked the army in Majdelioun checkpoint is itself the group which launched the assault on military checkpoint in Awali, noting that the soldiers have taken several measures following the incidents including raids to several sites and homes for suspected militants.

The sources added that the militants are related by marriage, and that one of them is married to the niece of a commander in Jund al-Sham extremist armed group in Ain al-Hilweh camp.

All militants are also partisans of al-Assir, who were used to visit Bilal Bin Rabah Mosque the source confirmed

Meanwhile, the security source voiced concern that two of the four attackers were suicide bombers, saying that this may indicate Lebanon has entered a new stage.
“What is surprising that one of the suicide bombers wanted to kill himself in a bid to kill a Lebanese soldier,” the source told as-Safir.

“Obviously, it is an attempt to tamper with security,” the source said noting that these groups have failed to target the army in Tripoli and they are trying now to do so in Sidon.
“However, the army is not a group of mercenaries and will not sit on its hands,” he said.