While most American attention has been on the threat posed by the Islamic State (IS), previously known as the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS), another danger has been building over the past few months. Since early July, al-Qaeda’s (AQ) affiliate in Syria, Jabhat al-Nusra (JN) or al-Nusra Front, has been quietly on the move.

Pro-Hezbollah forum members debated the effects of the crisis in Iraq and its potential spillover into Lebanon. In a thread entitled "The Danger That Has Struck Iraq Will Threaten the Neighboring Countries and Especially Lebanon," started on June 12, 2014, forum member Seraaj al-Janoob referred to Former Lebanese Foreign Minister Adnaan Mansour’s statement on the situation in Iraq, warning "of sleeper cells, and their support basins, that suddenly awaken to cause a destructive effect on the ground."