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| Wife, daughter of Islamic State head detained in Lebanon | Wife, daughter of Islamic State head detained in Lebanon |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| BEIRUT — Lebanon’s military has detained a wife and daughter of the Islamic State leader, security officials said Tuesday, handing authorities possible bargaining chips for the release of hostages held by the militant group. | |
| The detentions — which also included a spouse of another senior Islamic State commander — also could offer insights into the movements and activities of Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi and his inner circle. | The detentions — which also included a spouse of another senior Islamic State commander — also could offer insights into the movements and activities of Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi and his inner circle. |
| A Lebanese intelligence official, who identified al-Baghdadi’s wife as Sagia Dulaimi, said she was detained last week with her 9-year-old daughter at the al-Madfoun checkpoint in northern Lebanon. | A Lebanese intelligence official, who identified al-Baghdadi’s wife as Sagia Dulaimi, said she was detained last week with her 9-year-old daughter at the al-Madfoun checkpoint in northern Lebanon. |
| Both were carrying false identification documents after crossing over from Syria, where the Islamic State holds significant territory, said the official, who was involved in interrogating the detainees. He said they were Syrian nationals, but other security officials said they could be Iraqi. | Both were carrying false identification documents after crossing over from Syria, where the Islamic State holds significant territory, said the official, who was involved in interrogating the detainees. He said they were Syrian nationals, but other security officials said they could be Iraqi. |
| They were being held at a defense ministry compound on the outskirts of Beirut, said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, citing a lack of authority to discuss the issue in public. | They were being held at a defense ministry compound on the outskirts of Beirut, said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, citing a lack of authority to discuss the issue in public. |
| An official in Lebanon’s military also said Tuesday that the army has apprehended the wife of another senior Islamic State militant who is of Chechen origin. The official, who also spoke on condition of anonymity, declined to release her identity or the name of her husband. | |
| It was not immediately clear whether the woman was detained at the same time as al-Baghdadi’s family. | It was not immediately clear whether the woman was detained at the same time as al-Baghdadi’s family. |
| It also remains uncertain why they came to Lebanon, where the Islamic State is opposed by both the country’s Western-allied military and the powerful Iranian-backed Hezbollah militia. | It also remains uncertain why they came to Lebanon, where the Islamic State is opposed by both the country’s Western-allied military and the powerful Iranian-backed Hezbollah militia. |
| The military official said a number family members of Islamic State militants had taken refuge in northern Lebanon, where there are pockets of support from groups such as Jabhat al-Nusra, al-Qaeda’s affiliate in Syria. | The military official said a number family members of Islamic State militants had taken refuge in northern Lebanon, where there are pockets of support from groups such as Jabhat al-Nusra, al-Qaeda’s affiliate in Syria. |
| But the detentions could be used as leverage for the release of hostages held by the group. | But the detentions could be used as leverage for the release of hostages held by the group. |
| Islamic State has kidnapped thousands of people — including Arabs, Turks, Kurds Europeans and Americans — to extract ransoms or because of what the group sees as religious transgressions. It also has beheaded captives for political reasons, including two American journalists as well as American and British aid workers, in response to airstrikes by a U.S.-led coalition. | Islamic State has kidnapped thousands of people — including Arabs, Turks, Kurds Europeans and Americans — to extract ransoms or because of what the group sees as religious transgressions. It also has beheaded captives for political reasons, including two American journalists as well as American and British aid workers, in response to airstrikes by a U.S.-led coalition. |
| The intelligence official said Dulaimi was part of a prisoner exchange earlier this year between the Syrian government and rebels in Maaloula, a city in Syria. In that agreement, the government agreed to release 150 prisoners in exchange for Greek Orthodox nuns who are believed to have been held captive by militants with links to groups such as al-Qaeda. | The intelligence official said Dulaimi was part of a prisoner exchange earlier this year between the Syrian government and rebels in Maaloula, a city in Syria. In that agreement, the government agreed to release 150 prisoners in exchange for Greek Orthodox nuns who are believed to have been held captive by militants with links to groups such as al-Qaeda. |
| In August, militants with sympathies to Islamic State besieged the northern Lebanese town of Arsal and captured more than 20 soldiers before withdrawing. They have since beheaded two the soldiers, demanding that Lebanon release a number of Islamist militants held in its jails. | In August, militants with sympathies to Islamic State besieged the northern Lebanese town of Arsal and captured more than 20 soldiers before withdrawing. They have since beheaded two the soldiers, demanding that Lebanon release a number of Islamist militants held in its jails. |
| The Lebanese daily As-Safir was the first to report on the detentions of al-Baghdadi’s wife and child. The newspaper added that the arrests were made in “coordination with foreign intelligence agencies.” | |
| Lebanon has taken in more than 1 million Syrian refugees, and officials here have increasingly sounded alarm bells about the security threat of hosting such a large influx of foreign nationals. | Lebanon has taken in more than 1 million Syrian refugees, and officials here have increasingly sounded alarm bells about the security threat of hosting such a large influx of foreign nationals. |
| Following lighting advances in Iraq by Islamic State, al-Baghdadi, who is of Iraqi origin, declared a caliphate on land under the group’s control, which extends from deep inside Iraq to northern Syria. | Following lighting advances in Iraq by Islamic State, al-Baghdadi, who is of Iraqi origin, declared a caliphate on land under the group’s control, which extends from deep inside Iraq to northern Syria. |
| It is unclear how many wives al-Baghdad has, although Islamic Law permits four. | It is unclear how many wives al-Baghdad has, although Islamic Law permits four. |
| Brian Murphy in Washington contributed to this report. | Brian Murphy in Washington contributed to this report. |