The Syrian armed opposition's rise to power has provoked the activation of radical Islamist groups in northern Lebanon, a Lebanese political source in Tripoli told Sputnik.
"Radical groups, which have been active since the beginning of the Syrian crisis in 2011, have started to intensify their activities. They do not need to cross the border, as they have effectively been in Lebanon for a long time," the source said.
The leaders of radical groups in northern Lebanon are in direct contact with Syria's armed opposition, the source added.
"It is unlikely that one should hope for guarantees from groups with radical views regarding the safety of representatives of other minorities, including in terms of freedom of religion. The fact that they do not obey a single command is dangerous, which has caused disagreements between them, and this situation is concerning," the source added.
Former Alawite lawmaker from northern Lebanon Ali Darwish told Sputnik that the power shift in Syria has revealed a division in northern Lebanon between supporters of the revolutionaries and their opponents. Despite this, Darwish said that the army and security services had managed to bring the situation under control.