Lebanese Government Mum on Alleged Infiltration of al-Qaida Members into Syria
إقرأ هذا الخبر بالعربية
The Lebanese government remained tight-lipped on Saturday on Syrian claims that Lebanon had warned Damascus about the infiltration of al-Qaida members into Syria from its territories.
Lebanese Foreign Minister Adnan Mansour was only quoted as saying that “Lebanon hasn’t officially notified the Syrian foreign ministry about the infiltration of al-Qaida members to Syria.”
But he stressed that Defense Minister Fayez Ghosn had made such remarks about the issue. Ghosn said on Tuesday that al-Qaida members were active in the border area near the Lebanese eastern town of Arsal.
Mansour’s statement came a day after suicide bombers hit two security service bases in Damascus, killing at least 40 people, in attacks the regime blamed on al-Qaida.
“The Lebanese authorities warned us two days ago that an al-Qaida group infiltrated to Syria from Arsal," Syria's foreign ministry spokesman said.
But informed sources told An Nahar daily on Saturday that al-Qaida began fading after the killing of its chief Osama bin Laden in May and other leaders in the network.
The sources said the Syrian claims that were backed by statements made by Ghosn were similar to the behavior of slain Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi. They did not elaborate.
Western diplomatic sources also warned Lebanese authorities against “covering up and legitimizing the claims about al-Qaida’s presence in Lebanon” for fears that such allegations would reflect negatively on the country’s stability.
In remarks to al-Joumhouria newspaper, the sources expressed fear that Lebanon would be shoved into the Syrian crisis under the pretext of security over the alleged presence of al-Qaida in its territories.
They urged the government to deny the Syrian claims particularly that the international community is closely monitoring the “services” provided by the Lebanese authorities to the Assad regime by arresting dissidents or by allegedly facilitating financial transactions of Syrians targeted by sanctions.
President Michel Suleiman telephoned Syrian President Bashar Assad on Friday to condemn the bombings, saying they were aimed at scuttling Arab efforts to end the Syrian crisis.
Speaker Nabih Berri also cabled him condemning the “terrorist” blasts and extending his condolences over the victims.
24 December 2011, 11:52
017
IF and a big IF, these allegations are true, one has to wonder where did these Al Qaeda members come from in the first place? Were they home grown? Did they enter Lebanon from Israel? Did they land by parachute? They came from Syria no question about it. Bashar and his criminal regime sent them to Iraq and to Lebanon similar to Fateh al Islam in Nahr Bared. I guess most lebanese would welcome their return to Syria, the motherland. Personally, I am not buying this Qaeda story all together.
24 December 2011, 12:15
011
how can do that in 2 days if mr ghousn is right?
and why Mr ghousoun said that? does he want to give the rights to syrian troops to go inside the lebanese lands and killing lebaneses and syrian.
is mr Ghouson is defense MIn or just guy for Mr assad?
24 December 2011, 15:06
140
sure lebanese goverment won't tell how much it knows. it will do security work in silence as it should
24 December 2011, 15:07
150
and of course zionist information war department is also trying to say something here, but now they are not even sure what are they trying to say
24 December 2011, 15:36
07
jaba the camel since when did the lebanese ever solve one major crime
you moron
24 December 2011, 15:39
04
@Habal: I just hope your IZTEZ won't be the speaker of the parliament at next election because we are tired of his non sense and licking the Syrian boots.
24 December 2011, 15:43
013
whoever did it, it's a legitimate military targets. The Baatists army has been bombarding Syrian civilian neighborhoods for months, it's perfectly OK to bomb one of the intelligencia bldg of the Baath...this is a war where more than 6000 have been killed so far. We would like to see all of the Baathists buildings, establishments, homes, cars, etc....bombed to oblivion. Such an ideology shouldn't exist in the 21st century..and that's what the people want.
24 December 2011, 15:45
07
@Muwaten, his comics of choice are Al Manar, New tv, NBN & Press TV.
24 December 2011, 16:11
06
The Lebanese authorities are so good that they know of an al quaida group in Lebanon, allow them to infiltrate Syria, notify the Syrians abou it...but the same Lebanese authorities can't seem to find and arrest the 4 suspects that are wanted by the international court in connection with the Hariri murder...very interesting.
24 December 2011, 16:52
06
Actually the government is NOT mum, our minister of defense stated it clearly just two days ago, Al-Qaeda members are infiltrating FROM Syria* not the other way around. Needless to say if they are infiltrating into Syria they would merely be going back home to whomever sent them across the border to Lebanon in the first place.
*For a decade Bashar bragged about the Al-Qaeda members he was sending across his border to Iraq to "fight the occupiers" or crusaders. He did not mind them blowing up mostly Iraqi civilians. El-Absi was released prematurely from a Syrian jail while serving a sentence for terrorism, popped up in Lebanon in control of a Syrian Palestinian faction. Hassan was so distressed at the Lebanese government decision to let the LAF wipe the terrorists off the face of the earth he put red lines around them. Gen. Francois El-Haj who did a super job leading the mission against Absi paid with his life in Baadba just outside of Hassan's security zone in Dahieh, coincidence?
24 December 2011, 17:11
010
As some of my fellow commentators mentioned, the allegations about Alqaeda members coming from Lebanon are debunked by the fact that they were trained and harbored in Syria and no one of them could enter Lebanon without Syria's consent and Hezbollah knowledge!
Now that the dust settles from yesterday's barbaric bombing it becomes clearer that the desperate regime is attempting, in a very crude manner, to rekindle the fears of the "Alternative regime' in Syria if Assad falls.
25 December 2011, 13:44
20
the filthy zionist information war department tried to explain itself, but they just mumbled and grumbled and said nothing again. you know, when you hear same stupidities again and again it just mixes with the wind and waves...
