Supporters of the so-called Islamic State Emir in Ain el-Hilweh, Imad Yassine, have shifted their allegiance to the Nusra Front, which rebranded itself as Jabhat Fateh al-Sham in July when it split from the al-Qaida movement, As Safir daily reported on Saturday.
Following Yassines' arrest, groups affiliated to the detainee abandoned their homes and a state of “collapse” spread among the ranks of those who supported the Islamic State and Yassine, security sources said.
Military sources likened the scene to a similar situation that took place in the northeastern border town of Arsal when the Lebanese army fatigued the IS militants in the area with heavy shelling, air and land operations that compelled the militants to change allegiance to Nusra.