Bir Al-Abed Message to Entail Quality Response
Johnny Mnayyar - al-Joumhouria newspaper*
The booby-trapped car that exploded in the Beirut Southern Suburb locality of Bir Al-Abed was petrifying, terrifying. Even though casualties were insignificant considering the bomb size, the blast carried along scary messages.
First of all, political milieus and security sources all agreed that Bir Al-Abed car was the first chain of an expected long series; it was not a lone solo terrorist operation!
Third, culprits chose an area that used to be part of Hizbullah's security zone and where bureaus for the party's security officials are nearby the blast scene.
Fourth, the remarkable potential to select an area and study enter and exit plans, confirms that the team behind the operation comprised many individuals and more than one car.
Fifth, the operation was perfectly flawless. The bomb was linked to a time watch, which proves the explosion was an aim per se and not an attempt on someone's life. Besides, the bombing took place shortly after the car was parked lest Hizbullah would discover and dismantle it.
As security services dashed to investigate the blast, the participation of Lebanese nationals in the crime seemed farfetched. Doubts mostly rose on Syrians and Palestinians, noting that the planning side is different than the executor.
Security milieus, preoccupied with their probes, recalled the fresh Lebanon visit of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, who mostly set Palestinians apart the local conflict with its regional dimensions.
Albeit Abbas's visit came after Abra events in which the Palestinian faction Jund-al-Sham partook, it was clear enough that the Palestinian president fears, according to information, that Palestinians be exploited in the ongoing conflict in Syria and Lebanon or to be fuel in a merciless game.
More remarkably was "Israel's" rushing to deny any involvement in Bir Abed's bombing and point the finger at the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Anyhow, the security scene in Lebanon is widely exposed to the international game; this where danger and concerns lie.
Actually, preparing the Lebanese scene for security commotion has started long time ago. Otherwise, how to justify the explosives found with Ahmad Assir? Why were the Holy Quran and donation boxes booby-trapped? This indicates a critical plan concocted to accentuate and raise sectarian mobilization!
In the meantime, Hizbullah has put plans to face similar cases. Informed sources relate that Hizbullah did expect the targeting of civilian complexes or religious centers. A plan was drawn to absorb the blow and people's infuriation. The party asked the concerned committees to be ready to mitigate tensions likely to arouse among people following any incident and to curb any impulsive reaction
Moreover, Hizbullah determined targets as part of a counter-action to hit the responsible side--when identified--to preclude it from recidivating the attack.
All this is taking place amid a fierce regional conflict that is reaching its peak in Syria, with the few upcoming months seeming to be the hardest in a war that included everyone.
In less than a year, Syrians are to elect their president. Washington and its allies see this time as adequate to make a political settlement, while Tehran and Moscow maintain that the balance of powers has radically changed and that more military pressure will grant them utmost victory in this strategic land in the Middle East. Then, why not venturing into a political settlement?
According to those linchpins, Homs fall is within reach and Aleppo battle is being thoroughly prepared for. This means that Syria has simmering months to go through, which leads to conclude that Lebanon, already at stake, will see its domestic scene being violently shaken soon.
*translated by website team
