A statement by the Sinai-based terror militia Ansar Bayt al-Maqdis Monday night declared the groups allegiance to the Islamic State (IS, formally ISIS) terror militia, marking a large expansion of influence for IS in the region and raising questions about the efficacy of US-led military efforts against IS in Syria and Iraq. Meanwhile, Egyptian security sources revealed on Monday that they are investigating hundreds of Egyptian citizens for suspected ties to IS after they returned from trips to Syria or Iraq during the tenure of ousted Egyptian president Mohamed Morsi. Elsewhere, Saudi Arabia, France and Lebanon were set to finalize a deal Tuesday which would see Riyad financing over $3 billion in French-built weapons and military equipment for the Lebanese Armed Forces who are battling the spillover effects of the wars between IS and its opponents in neighboring Syria and Iraq. Read More
