BEIRUT: A Lebanese soldier Saturday reportedly announced his defection and joined the ranks of Nusra Front, the second military personnel to do so this week.
The state-run National News Agency identified the soldier as Abdallah Shahadeh from the village of Mashha in the northern Akkar district.
An-Nahar reported that the Lebanese Army had lost contact with one of their Humvees in the Bekaa Valley that Shahadeh was driving at the time.
On Friday, Nusra Front announced that Mohammad Antar, a Lebanese Army soldier, defected from the military and joined its ranks.
Speaking to The Daily Star Friday, a military official acknowledged that Antar had defected from the Army on Oct. 3.
The Nusra Front and ISIS have been critical of the Lebanese Army, accusing it of working closely with Hezbollah and attacking Syrian refugees in retaliation for the August clashes.
The head of Mashha municipality, Zakariya al-Zohbi, described Shahadeh's defection was an individual act, saying the town was known for its undying support for the Army.
"The man is known in the town as a nice military personnel and the son of a family that is devoted to the military institution, and we have never noticed any abnormal behavior,” Zohbi said in a statement. "Everyone is shocked.”
"Mashha is known for supporting the Lebanese Army, and there are no terrorist organizations here or any groups that oppose the Army.”
The mayor also denied reports that the Army had raided the town following news of the soldier's defection.
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