Former Deputy Prime Minister, MP Ghassan Hasbani, underlined the suspicious “coincidence” of the “sudden” reappearance of the Islamic State at a time Amal and Hezbollah face pressure.
In comments made to LBCI television on Wednesday evening, Hasbani argued that there seems to be a correlation between the emergence of the Islamic State in Lebanon whenever the “Shiite duo” comes under pressure.
He was referring to Wednesday’s attack on the US embassy in Awkar, carried out by a Syrian national believed to be associated with the Islamic State group. The MP hinted at the possibility of Hezbollah’s involvement in the attack.
The anti-Hezbollah opposition had already expressed this speculation on Wednesday. Meanwhile, the Army was actively investigating fifteen individuals arrested in the Bekaa region following the attack, including the assailant’s brother.
Hasbani stressed that “the incident at the US embassy highlights the consequences of Lebanon’s porous borders (with Syria) and the widespread proliferation of illegal weapons.”
“Whoever orchestrated the attack likely intended to send a message beyond Lebanon’s borders,” added the MP.
Additionally, Hasbani emphasized that the assailant’s nationality wasn’t surprising.
“We haven’t forgotten the murder of Pascal Sleiman, but we must not label all Syrians as terrorists,” said the MP, reaffirming the necessity of repatriating Syrian migrants to safe areas in their country or relocating them to other countries.
Sleiman, an official in the Lebanese Forces, was kidnapped in North Lebanon early April and his body was dumped inside Syrian territory.
