Shiite terror group forges unlikely alliance with Lebanon’s Christians integrating ‘dozens’ of into its military wing to fight in Syria.
By i24news
Faced with the threat posed by the Islamic State, Lebanon-based Shiite terror group Hezbollah has forged an unlikely alliance with the country’s Christian contingent and is training Christian fighters, according to reports in Arabic media.
One of Hezbollah’s enemies: Mujahideen members of al-Qaida’s Nusra Front – Photo: REUTERS/file
Christians are among Middle East minorities at risk from rising unrest across the region, and from extremist groups such as the Islamic State, which has violently carved out a large area of control in Iraq and Syria.
Contrary to earlier reports claiming Hezbollah had a special Christian “brigade,” it appears the group has integrated “dozens” of Christians into its official military wing, the Islamic Resistance.
Hezbollah has dispatched its own fighters to join ally the battle of Bashar Assad, Syria’s country’s embattled president, against insurgents seeking to oust him and jihadists groups such as IS.
In Syria, IS kidnapped some 220 Assyrian Christians last month, prompting 5,000 people to flee the countryside in fear of the jihadist advance.
IS militants have also attacked Christians in neighboring Iraq, where it seized swathes of territory in a lightning June offensive last year.
View original i24news publication at: http://www.i24news.tv/en/news/international/middle-east/72605-150526-faced-with-is-threat-hezbollah-forges-unlikely-alliance-with-lebanon-christians
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