Jihad Group allied with Islamic State (ISIS) vows to cleanse Lebanon of Churches

The specific wording of the statement from the Free Sunnis of Baalbek Brigade echoes the 7th century 'Conditions of Omar' (see here and here) which forbids Christians from ringing their church bells and openly practicing their faith, but the ominous vow of "cleansing Lebanon from churches" has an apocalyptic tone, as Islamic eschatology believes that when Isa (Jesus) returns, he will "break the crosses" and destroy Christianity. Jihadi groups all over the world, through their genocidal targeting of Christians and churches, display their eagerness to help bring that about.

Free Sunnis of Baalbek Brigade Vows to Silence Church Bells in Bekaa

Naharnet, via Jihad Watch — July 2, 2014

The vague group known as the Free Sunnis of Baalbek Brigade vowed to task gunmen to attack churches in Lebanon and in the eastern Bekaa valley in particular.

The Brigade announced on its twitter account that a “specialized group of free jihadists were tasked with cleansing the Islamic state of Bekaa in particular and in Lebanon in general from the churches.”

“We will target crusaders in the state and in Lebanon to silence the ringing of the bells,” the group said.

The Brigade recently pledged allegiance to the Islamic State, previously known as the Islamic State of the Iraq and the Levant.

The Islamic State declared over the weekend the establishment of the “Islamic caliphate” led by Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, ordering Muslims worldwide to pledge allegiance to their chief, in a spectacular bid to extend their authority.

A “caliphate” is an Islamic form of government last seen under the Ottoman Empire.

The mysterious Free Sunnis of Baalbek Brigade had in the past claimed that it is an affiliate of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, but the ISIL later denied that.

On March 16, the Brigade engaged in a war of words with the al-Nusra Front in Lebanon, believed to be a local franchise of the Syria-based, Qaida-linked al-Nusra Front.

The dispute erupted after both groups claimed responsibility on Twitter for a deadly suicide bombing that rocked the Bekaa town of al-Nabi Othman.

The Brigade has claimed responsibility for several rocket and bomb attacks inside Lebanon, the last of which were the suicide blasts in Dahr al-Baydar and Raouche’s Duroy Hotel.