Beirut has begun strikes against "Islamic State" positions near its border with Syria. The move is a precarious one, as it places the US-backed army tenuously on the same side as Hezbollah and Bashar al-Assad.
Image: Reuters/H. Abdallah
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The Lebanese army announced on Saturday the start of a long-awaited offensive against "Islamic State" (IS) militants positioned near the country's frontier with Syria. Army units and heavy artillery have already struck IS targets threatening northeastern Lebanon.
The situation for Beirut is a delicate one, however, as the armed paramilitary wing of the Lebanon-based Islamist political party Hezbollah is also fighting IS - but as an ally of the government of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.
Lebanon's military relies on supplies from the US, which has not only denounced the Assad regime but also classifies Hezbollah as a terrorist organization. While the Lebanese military has said it will coordinate with Hezbollah to clear IS from the border area, it denied any collusion with Assad's forces.
According to a Hezbollah spokesman, the plan was for their forces and Assad's soldiers to attack from one side, with the Lebanese army fighting on the other side of IS territory, but that "each side is working alone."
Although IS has never made significant progress in Lebanese territory, their presence near the border has terrorized Lebanese citizens in nearby towns and villages for years. Kidnappings for ransom as well as intermittent shelling have become common.
The conflict in Syria has also had serious consequences for Lebanon politically, as an estimated 1.14 million Syrian refugees have fled to the small country, which itself has only about 6 million citizens.
Lebanese President Michel Aoun was at the Defense Ministry on Saturday to oversee the start of the operation. Politicians hope to clear the terrorists from a stretch of border territory that spans about 300 square kilometers (115 square miles), half of which is in Lebanon.
What is the 'Islamic State'?
IS has gone from an obscure al-Qaida splinter group to a global phenomenon. DW takes a look at the defining aspects of the jihadi group — from its "caliphate" to its tactics.
Image: picture-alliance/AP Photo/Al-Furqan
Where did it come from?
The "Islamic State" (IS) — also known as ISIL, ISIS and Daesh — is an al-Qaida splinter group with a militant Sunni Islamist ideology. It emerged in the aftermath of the US-led invasion of Iraq in 2003 and is led by Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. Their goal is to create a worldwide "caliphate." It gained worldwide notoriety in 2014 after a blitzkrieg military campaign that resulted in the capture of Mosul.
Image: picture-alliance/AP Photo
Where does it operate?
IS is believed to be operational in more than a dozen countries across the world. It controls territories in Iraq and Syria. However, the group has lost much of the territory it controlled in Iraq and Syria at the height of its expansion in 2014.
Who is fighting back?
The US leads an international coalition of more than 50 countries, including several Arab nations. Russia, Iran and its Lebanese Shiite ally Hezbollah, which all support the Syrian government, also fight IS. Regional forces such as the Kurdish peshmerga (above) and US-backed Syrian Kurdish fighters, fight IS on the ground. The Iraqi army and militia have pushed IS from large parts of the country.
Image: picture-alliance/abaca/H. Huseyin
How does it fund itself?
One of IS' main sources of income has been oil and gas. At one point, it controlled an estimated one-third of Syria's oil production. However, US-led airstrikes deliberately targeted oil resources and the Syrian government as well as US-backed Syrian Kurdish fighters have retaken most oil wells. Other means of income include taxes, ransom, selling looted antiquities and extortion.
Image: Getty Images/J. Moore
Where does it carry out attacks?
IS has claimed responsibility for numerous terrorist attacks across the globe. The militant group has targeted capitals across the EU, including Berlin, Brussels and Paris. IS leaders have encouraged so-called "lone wolf" attacks, whereby individuals who support IS carry out terrorist acts without the direct involvement of the group.
Image: picture-alliance/AP Photo/M. Spingler
What other tactics does it use?
The group uses various tactics to expand its power. IS fighters have looted and destroyed historical artifacts in Syria and Iraq in an attempt at "cultural cleansing." The group has also enslaved thousands of women from religious minority groups, including Yazidis. IS also uses a sophisticated social network to distribute propaganda and recruit sympathizers.
Image: Getty Images/AFP/J. Eid
How has it impacted the region?
IS has further exacerbated the ongoing Syrian conflict. Millions of Syrians and Iraqis have fled their homes, many traveling to Europe in pursuit of refuge. Although it has lost all of its strongholds, the militant group has left extraordinary destruction in its wake. Areas affected by the militant group's rule will likely take years to rebuild.
