Ayham Kamel, Middle East analyst with Eurasia Group, said the embassy bombing was an attempt by supporters of the Sunni rebels to weaken Hezbollah and Irans support for Assad, undermine the Qalamoun campaign and potentially pressure Tehran before Wednesdays nuclear talks. While sectarian tensions in Lebanon will increase, Hezbollahs retaliatory response will be centered on Syria where (it) will further commit military forces to eliminate the Sunni rebel threat along the Syrian-Lebanese borders, he said. The Abdullah Azzam Brigade, which claimed the attack, has strong links in Lebanons Palestinian refugee camps as well as connections with the Gulf - two of its senior military leaders are Saudi nationals, said Charles Lister, an analyst at IHS Janes Terrorism and Insurgency Centre. This attack is a significant escalation. After months and months of speculation, an al Qaeda-linked group has now underlined its involvement in the Syria-related Lebanese theatre, he said.
Posted on: Tue, 19 Nov 2013 17:21:07 +0000