As many Lebanese had predicted, the unrest in Syria has spilled into Lebanon’s borders. Around 3pm local time, a bomb went off in Beirut. Once described as the “Paris of the Middle East,” Beirut has now been reduced to another victim of the 19 month old conflict that began with the Arab Spring.
Sources say that seven people have been pronounced dead, including top security official and supposed target, Brig. Gen. Wissam al-Hassan. According to the New York Times, this is the “most serious bombing to hit Beirut in at least 4 years.”
Al-Hassam, the intelligence chief of the Internal Security Forces, is thought to have been leading the investigation that uncovered a bomb plot, which led to the arrest of Lebanese official, Michel Samaha, who is close to the Syrian President. In addition, according to Al Jazeera’s latest update, al-Hassam’s ISF has also been “deeply involved” in investigating and arresting those responsible for many of the assassinations and violence since the murder of former Sunni Prime Minister, Rafiq Hariri. To complicate matters between Syria and Lebanon, many of those being targeted by his investigations happen to be Syrian officials.
While nobody has been officially blamed nor have they come forward to take credit, sources speculate that Syria and Hezbollah are behind the bombing. Both groups reject speculations, with the Syrian government publically condemning the violent attack.
The immediate ramifications of the blast are not yet clear, but there is no doubt that this explosion will heighten tensions between the neighboring countries and the factions within them.
Lebanon has a tense relationship with Syria. Syria occupied Lebanon following the end of the Lebanese Civil War in 1991 and didn’t withdraw until 2005. Lebanon is predominantly Sunni Muslim whereas Syria is dominated by a ruling Alawite Muslim regime whose sympathies are with alleged Iranian proxy and Shiite Alawite political party, Hezbollah. One of the main sources of tension is the 2005 assassination of Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri. A Lebanese investigation into his death indicated involvement by high ranking Syrian officials and their Lebanese proxy group, Hezbollah. Syria and Hezbollah, in turn blame Israel’s Mossad. Hariri’s assassination triggered the “Cedar Revolution,” which gave way to a Syrian withdrawal from Lebanese territory. This did not, however, mean a lack of contact between the two nations.
Since the end of the Civil War from 1975-1991, the various religious populations – predominantly Sunni Muslims, Druze, and Maronite groups – have generally been successful in maintaining order. The one exception is Hezbollah, a powerful militant Shiite faction and party in Lebanon’s complex political scene. Hezbollah receives support and funding from both Syria and Iran, which gives them the leverage to be a powerful figure in Lebanese and world politics. The group has 4 principle goals – all involving their dislike of Israel – and maintains that the current government does not do enough to reprimand Israel for its so-called “crimes” against Israel. In addition, Hezbollah also seeks Islamic law to govern Lebanon. Teamed up with Syria, Hezbollah opens up a path for the Syrian violence to invade Lebanon.
Memories of their own 15 year Civil War, which left over 150,000 wounded, and the following occupation by Syria and Israel are still raw and make the Lebanese even more wary of the spillover violence. Tensions still exist between Muslim Sunni and Shiite groups and there is fear that it could spread to encompass Lebanon, dragging the country back into conflict.
Image: BBC
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