Lebanon Condemns “Terrorist Attack” in Syria

Lebanese Foreign Minister Adnan Mansour condemned a recent attack in Damascus, which killed 25 people and wounded 45 others. “Once again repulsive terrorism has hit the Syrian capital Damascus, which is an indication to a new and dangerous phase that does not only affect Syria, but also opens the doors for new terror operations that extend across regions and borders,” the Lebanese National News agency quoted Mansour as saying. The Syrian government labeled the apparent suicide bombing as a terrorist attack, though opposition members have said that the government carried out the attack “to erode support for the uprising and show the [Arab League] observer team that it is a victim in the country’s upheaval.

Additionally, Lana Asfour wonders if Lebanon is “immune” to the Arab Spring due to its adeptness at dealing with political crises, saying that while “the toppling of dictators in Tunisia and Egypt has been welcomed by all, the uprisings in neighboring Syria have inspired a quieter and more uneasy mood.” Since Hezbollah in Lebanon has supported uprisings in Egypt, Tunisia, and Bahrain, Asfour states, Hezbollah “would only have to justify its stance on Syria to its own constituents and adapt to the changing [political] situation.” Hassan Haidar writes “The Syrian opposition will have to prove it is standing midway between all the Lebanese, even if it is supported by some of them for the time being, and that it will be able to overcome the Syrian popular mood which tends to downplay the importance of the independent Lebanon.”