Conflicting Reports over Hamas Cooperation with Army over Dahieh Rocket Attack

Contradicting reports emerged on Thursday on whether Hamas is cooperating with the Lebanese army intelligence on handing over two witnesses in the May rocket attack that targeted Hizbullah controlled neighborhood of Shiyah, in Beirut's southern suburbs,

Hamas previously confirmed that Fadi Taha, the brother of the suspect Ahmed Mahmoud Taha, and his cousin were handed over to the intelligence bureau as witnesses.

However, a military source pointed out that handing over the witnesses isn't enough as Hamas still has to hand over a third wanted person, residing in the Palestinian refugee camp of al-Rashidiyeh and a member of the movement.

According to the source, speaking on condition to anonymity to As Safir newspaper, pointed out that the third wanted person, 24-year-old Alaa Eddine Yassine, is involved in the rocket attack.

Al-Akhbar newspaper reported that Yassine is the person who hired Taha to carry out several “terrorist attacks” across Lebanon.

Security sources told the daily that the army is determined to respond firmly to any provocations or attack by extremist gunmen, who are mostly residing in the Palestinian refugee camp Ain el-Hilweh.

On Tuesday, the Lebanese army demanded Hamas representative in Lebanon Ali Barakeh to hand in two suspects linked May's rocket attack.

On May 26, four people were wounded in a rocket attack on Beirut's southern suburbs.

Beirut's southern suburbs have been a scene of several violent attacks lately.

In July, a booby-trapped car exploded at a parking lot in Bir al-Abed, leaving 53 people wounded and causing extensive material damage.

And on last week, 27 people were killed and more than 336 others wounded in a powerful car bombing that went off between the suburbs of Bir al-Abed and Ruwais.

30-year-old Taha resides in Harat Hreik, has a cellphone shop in the area and allegedly has links to Hamas.

Al-Akhar newspaper said that the rockets fired at Dahieh were bought from an arms dealer, from Palestinian refugee camp Burj al-Barajneh.

The daily reported that the dealer informed Hizbullah that he was the one who sold the rockets, assuming that they were going to be used to attack Israel.