BEIRUT, Lebanon, Dec. 21 (UPI) -- Lebanese military and government officials fear al-Qaida has smuggled activists and arms into Lebanon with plans to establish a terror base.
Military commander Gen. Jean Kahwagi raised the concerns at a recent security meeting and also expressed fear that some refugees fleeing into the country and grouping at Arsal are affiliated with al-Qaida, sources close to Prime Minister Najib Mikati told The (Beirut) Daily Star.
"Weapons are being smuggled [there] and members of terrorist groups are entering to establish a base [in Lebanon] under the cover that they belong to Syrian opposition," the newspaper quoted Lebanon's Defense Minister Fayez Ghosn saying at the meeting.
A source told the newspaper that Kahwagi confirmed that al-Qaida activists posing as members of Syria's opposition were smuggling weapons into the country. He also said military personnel encountered objections from Lebanese groups when they attempted to confront the suspected al-Qaida operatives.
Since the unrest in Syria began in March, refugees fleeing Syria entered the Wadi Khaled district of Akkar in Lebanon, but in recent months groups crossing the border into Lebanon were reported in Arsal in the Bekaa region, the Star said.
Kahwagi called on the government to assist in dealing with the issue, the newspaper said.
