MP Allouch: Mirza’s report confirms the role of Syrian Intelligence in the Ain Alaq bombings

 

In an exclusive interview with NOW Lebanon, Future bloc member Mustafa Allouch said that the recent discovery of the mastermind behind the Ain Alaq bus bombings was a “remarkable success for the Lebanese security services,” which confirmed that if given the power and capacity, they are capable of uncovering all crimes.

 

General Prosecutor Said Mirza’s judicial report, Allouch said, confirmed the political nature of the crime, which occurred on the eve of the second anniversary of former PM Rafik Hariri’s assassination.

 

The bombing was a strong message from Fatah al-Islam leader Shaker Al-Abssi to the March 14 forces, Allouch added, which pointed to the Syrian Intelligence Services as the party who brought Abssi onto Lebanese territory.

 

The MP noted that this crime was different in nature from the chain of assassinations that has plagued Lebanon since 2005, but it was nonetheless a demonstration of the logic of Syrian intelligence in Lebanon.

 

Allouch said the French decision to close two of its cultural centers in Tripoli and Sidon, which are associated with the French Embassy, was a result of the deteriorating security situation in Lebanon and their expectation of more violence. He also that Saudi Arabia’s advice to its nationals to avoid travel to Lebanon was a “first in dealing with the Lebanese situation.”

 

MP Allouch said he doubted Saudi Arabia’s decision was a result of the domestic Lebanese crisis, but an “after effect” of the assassination of Hezbollah security official Imad Mugniyah and the speech made by the group’s leader, Hassan Nasrallah, at Mugniyah’s funeral, in which he announced “open war” on Israel.

 

“Saudi Arabia may have felt that the events of the 2006 summer war may recur.”

“Hezbollah knows that the declaration of open war requires a cohesive internal front, which has been shaken by the events of the past year. Extensive polls also confirm that the South is still recovering from its wounds, and the citizens of the South are unwilling to engage in any war of any kind.”

 

Allouch added that, “If Nasrallah wants to go into this war, it is easy. All he has to do is facilitate the creation of a unified internal front, agree to elect a president of the republic, and reach a national understanding on the political and military tracks that Lebanon will take.”

 

Allouch said the March 8 forces were “intransigent” and that he did not understand “what conditions are acceptable to General Michel Aoun for the election of the president. I think that Aoun has reached the point of no return through his alliance with the opposition and will continue to reject the question of the presidency until – as he thinks – the rest tire and accept him as president.”

 

Allouch said he believed the Syrian regime entered the countdown stage when the Special Tribunal was appointed.

 

He said it is a possibility that Syria may facilitate the election of the president and subsequently impede the formation of a cabinet, as Fares Soueid predicted.

 

Anti-Israeli slogans, Allouch noted, would not bring down the state of Israel. “If Hezbollah has this capacity, then why is it waiting so long to execute what so many are calling for?”
 
Allouch added that he was surprised by General Aoun’s defense of Hezbollah yesterday, when the FPM leader said in a press conference that “no one can tell those who were violated not to retaliate.”

 

Allouch asked whether Aoun was willing to gamble “what remained of his popularity on this open war,” and whether he was willing to send his own followers to the frontlines of this war.