Fighters linked to the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) in the Syrian al-Qalamoun are reportedly mobilizing and moving closer to the border with Lebanon ahead of a battle along the country's eastern border.

Lebanese and Syrian security sources said in comments published on Tuesday in al-Akhbar newspaper that ISIL fighters are moving “from eastern al-Qalamoun to its west” in preparation for a battle in the area in the spring after the snow melts.

Information obtained by the daily pointed out that “militants assaulted a Syrian army post two weeks ago in Deir Attiya (in eastern al-Qalamoun) as a camouflage to smuggle around 1,000 fighters to west al-Qalamoun” near the Lebanese border.

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