The military prosecutor charged 13 al Qaeda-linked suspects with planning terror attacks in Lebanon; among those charged is Jamal Daftardar, a.k.a. Mohammad Ahmad al-Masri, a top Abdullah Azzam Brigades leader accused of recruiting, training, and facilitating the transfer of dozens of jihadists to Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan, and Yemen. The son of a former Lebanese Forces official was kidnapped in Mount Lebanon. Israel accused Hezbollah of creating “thousands” of bases in homes in Beirut, the Bekaa Valley, and southern Lebanon that threaten Israel’s security, and vowed to “deal aggressively” with them in the event of a conflict, even if it costs residents their lives.
