From Romieh Prison to Emir of Militants in Syria

Local Editor

Al-Akhbar Lebanese daily revealed Friday that "till now, details of the recruitment of men killed in Tel Kalakh ambush haven't been unfolded yet."

However, it mentioned that facts of recruiting more Lebanese youths to fight in the "Lands of Jihad" continue to appear with time.

According to the daily, the first man accused of recruiting these youths, the leader of "Fatah al-Islam" Khalid Mahmoud, has been released. He further appeared on YouTube, announcing the formation of "Jund al-Sham."

"The absence of Mahmoud wasn't long. He barely went out of Roumieh central prison last June to join the armed opposition in Syria," the report added.
Six months have passed, the man appeared in a You Tube video, wearing a black turban and surrounded by gunmen. He simply announced the formation of an armed group named Jund "al-Sham."
Naming himself, the Emir Abu Suleiman al-Muhajir, Mahmoud called for "jihad to strengthen God's rule on earth."
Thus, the ex-prisoner in Lebanon turned to a military leader in Syria.

In parallel, al-Akhbar newspaper mentioned that "Mahmoud is accused of being the main responsible for receiving and recruiting Lebanese youth who pass into Syria for "jihad".
It is worth mentioning that Mahmoud had been stopped before the Nahr al-Bared battles, i.e. after the security agencies monitored him meeting Fatah al-Islam officials in the camp.
During his stay in prison, Mahmoud claimed that he is a mufti of Fateh al-Islam, so he started issuing fatwas randomly, just to appear.

In this context, security information unveiled to al-Akhbar, that a close associate of Khalid Mahmoud, Yahiya C., is primarily responsible for recruiting and sending groups to Syria, particularly, the Tel Kalakh group.
"Yahiya, living inside Bab al-Tabbaneh, as well as Nader H. and Bashir M. are greatly active in recruiting Salafist cells," the daily said.

Mahmoud entered the Syrian territory from al-Qaa then moved to Qalat al-Hosen in Syria, where he became the Emir of the militant groups. Moreover, a group of Lebanese extremists came from Tripoli and joined him as a rebel leader by pledging allegiance.
Among these are: Samer R., Wiam Sh., Abu Hamza A., Saad A., in addition to 15 other young men of Bab al-Tabbaneh.

On another level, well-informed sources talked of strained relationship between Mahmoud and a number of Salafi sheikhs, caused by remarks on the so-called religious commitment.
""Abu Suleiman" exaggerates in his extremism and takfiri attitudes," some Sheikhs believe, as some of them accused him of being a mercenary rather than a rebel leader.

Source: al-Akhbar daily, Translated and Edited by moqawama.org