Naharnet reports,
A senior police intelligence officer, involved in the investigation into ex-Premier Rafik Hariri's murder, survived an assassination bombing ambush with minor injuries in southern Lebanon Tuesday.Media reports said Lt. Col. Samir Shehade was moderately injured in the explosion, which went off as his car drove by the village of Rmaileh, near the southern port city of Sidon. He was taken to the Hammoud hospital in Sidon, and hospital officials said his condition was stable.
Security officials said four aides and bodyguards were killed and another five were wounded in the attack.
Shehade is deputy chief of the intelligence department in Lebanon's internal security force.
Interior Minister Ahmed Fatfat said Shehade was involved last year in the arrest of four generals accused of involvement in ex-Premier Rafik Hariri's assassination. The four are Brig. Gen. Jamil Sayyed, Brig. Gen. Ali Hajj, Brig. Gen. Raymond Azar and Brig. Gen. Mustafa Hamdan.
The Lebanese Internal Security Forces are considered the most loyal security apparatus to the Lebanese government - i.e. the current governing coalition. This attack should be seen in light of the string of assassinations and bombings that have transpired since the attempted murder of MP Marwan Hamade, around two years ago. The bombing should also be seen in light of the recent political offensive carried out by Syria's allies in Lebanon to undermine the government. Fellow blogger Abu Kais has dealt with those particular developments comprehensively. I recommend you pay him a visit.
2 comments:
It is astounding how you don’t even hint at the possibility that a party other than Syria might have committed this crime. After all, what would Israel possibly gain by an act like this, in light of the events of last month? Mind you, I don’t know who did it, but at least I admit there are multiple possibilities. The Lebanese Bloggers, fair and balanced ;)
chuck, first, to say that the argument must be completed in the comment section is not very convincing. Second, why is it more likely that the Syrians are responsible? Things are going well for them these days. Hezbollah held on and has fortified its internal position, their allies feel strong, and there has been a clear swing in the balance of power to their favor. Why would they do such a thing when there's no need for it? March 14 are running like headless chicken without the help of the Syrians. It seems to me that one can easily come up with arguments that show that Israel would benefit much more from such an act. Why this one-sided exposition of things? This is either extremely naïve, or ridiculously biased. My guess is that it is a mixture of both in this case.
What do you expect Khaddam to say anyway?
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