Lebanese Army Arrests ISIL Top Figure, Kills Three Gunmen

Thursday 23 October 2014

Lebanese Army Arrests ISIL Top Figure, Kills Three Gunmen

The Lebanese Army intelligence managed today to apprehend terrorist Ahmad Salim Mikati in a critical security operation in Doniyeh, after it raided the apartment he occupied with other terrorists, a communiqué by the army's Guidance Directorate indicated on Thursday.

Three gunmen were killed and one soldier was slightly wounded during the operation.

Mikati, AKA Abu Bakr or Abu al-Hoda, born 1968, is considered as a top ISIL figure in the north region. He has established cells linked to the organization in the region. He was also planning to carry out a huge terrorist act in coordination with his son who is currently fighting alongside ISIL in Arsal. Moreover, the man had connections with ISIL leaders inside Syria, whereby he has recently sent Lebanese young men to join fighters in Qalamoun outskirts, among whom his nephew, Bilal Omar Mikati, involved in the beheading of army martyr Ali Sayyed.

Furthermore, the arrested was found involved in the events in Bab al-Tabbaneh and Jabal Mohsen, whereby he led a group of tens of gunmen after he got out of prison in 2010 where he served a six-year sentence for planning for a terrorist attack against foreign diplomatic interests.

His name was also linked to the explosions that hit McDonalds in 2003. He had also participated in Doniyeh events against the army in 1999.