Jumblat: Syrian Intelligence behind Zawahiri’s Support for Syrian Revolt
Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblat questioned on Tuesday al-Qaida leader Ayman al-Zawahiri’s call for supporting the Syrian revolt, saying that he is seeking to tarnish the opposition’s peaceful movement.
He said in a statement: “The timing of the call indicates that the development was orchestrated by the Syrian intelligence.”
He explained that the Syrian regime’s linking of the Syrian uprising to al-Qaida is an attempt for it to justify its claims that “terrorist gangs” are creating unrest in the country.
The regime has vowed to continue its crackdown against these “gangs”.
Jumblat added that the regime will use Zawahiri’s call to justify the ongoing crackdown.
Furthermore, he noted that some local Lebanese powers will likely employ the development to maintain their claims that al-Qaida had infiltrated the Bekaa town of Arsal.
A few months ago, Defense Minister Fayez Ghosn stated that members of the terrorist organization had infiltrated the town and later entered Syria.
Days after his declaration, twin bombing erupted in Damascus, which the Syrian regime blamed on al-Qaida.
The March 14-led opposition slammed Ghosn’s remarks, saying that he may be linking Lebanon to the developments in Syria.
Zawahiri on Sunday voiced his support for Syria's uprising and urged Muslims in several countries, including Lebanon, to come to the aid of Syrian rebels confronting President Bashar Assad's forces.
"I appeal to every Muslim and every free, honorable one in Turkey, Iraq, Jordan, and Lebanon, to rise to help his brothers in Syria with all that he can," he said in a new video message released on jihadist Internet forums.
A Muslim should help the rebels “with his life, money, opinion, as well as information," he added.
In the video titled "Onwards, Lions of Syria,” he criticized the Syrian regime for crimes against its citizens, and praised those rising up against the government.
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