In Tripoli, new fighting groups have emerged, including the Bilal Ben Rabah Brigades, the Oussoud al-Shaarani Brigades, Jalal Dandashi Brigades, and a Salafist group led by Hussam al-Sabbagh a.k.a. Abu al-Hasan, giving rise to speculation that a crackdown on Islamist groups may be imminent. The Abdullah Azzam Brigades released photos of its joint attack with the Al Nusrah Front in Lebanon on targets in Hermel. Hezbollah is bolstering security in its Lebanese strongholds after recent attacks and threats by al Qaeda-linked groups. A group of Muslim scholars called for the release of Omar Atrash, a Sunni cleric suspected of smuggling terrorists and ammunition from Syria into Beirut.
