Rival Factions Throw ISF Into Disarray (Security‪)‬

The Internal Security Forces (ISF), Lebanon's police force, have long been held with great esteem by rival political leaders for their role in maintaining law and order in the country. The ISF, along with the Lebanese Armed Forces, have provided the country with "a security umbrella" against crimes and against local and foreign attempts to destabilize Lebanon. In particular, the Army Intelligence Directorate and the ISF's Intelligence Branch have recently won nationwide praise for their role in uncovering Israeli spy networks operating in the country. More than 100 people, including former and on-duty police officers and army generals, have been arrested this year on suspicion of collaborating with the Israeli enemy. Yet, in parallel with the crackdown on the Israeli spy networks, the ISF and its Intelligence Branch have recently been the target of sustained attacks by some factions in the Syrian-backed Hizbullah-led March 8 alliance. Christian leader Michel Aoun, a member of the March 8 alliance, has launched a concerted campaign in recent weeks against the ISF's Intelligence Branch, accusing it of being an "illegitimate" security agency that detains and terrorizes people without charges.