SUMMARY

The Islamic State (IS) was seen as having a stated goal of incompatibility towards the Government of Lebanon following the announcement of its former name, Islamic State in Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS), in 2013. Al-Sham is an old term referring to a large area by the eastern Mediterranean, including Syria and Lebanon. In a major spillover from the conflict in Syria, forces from IS and its allies of Jabhat al-Nusra crossed into Lebanon and captured the northeastern town Arsal and surrounding areas from Lebanese security forces in August 2014.

By 2017, the IS force stationed around Arsal was hard-pressed, and the Lebanese army prepared to retake the final pockets of IS-controlled territory. In July and August 2017, Lebanese forces moved against IS positions, systematically driving them away from the inaccessible hill areas outside Arsal and Ras Balbeek. After intense fighting, several hundred IS militants surrendered to the Lebanese army, and to a combined Syrian regime/Hezbollah force conducting a parallel offensive in Western Qalamoun just across the border in Syria. This marked the first time a large number of IS militants had surrendered at the same time; the militants were then allowed to withdraw from Arsal and Western Qalamoun to areas still controlled by IS in Syria.