UN: No ‘Proof’ al-Qaeda Behind Syria Bombings

Annan Warns of 'Third Element' Fighting Alongside Govt, Rebels

A spokesman for UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon says that there is no “hard proof” that al-Qaeda was actually behind a number of high profile bombings against Syrian government targets, but did express concern about terrorist attacks in the country.

The spokesman, Martin Nesirky, said that the attacks were “clearly carried out by a group with organization and intent,” and that they did seem to follow the “familiar” style of such attacks elsewhere.

One of the attacks earlier this month, a bombing attack in Damascus, killed 70 people and wounded hundreds of others. Syrian officials cited this as proof of Western backing for al-Qaeda attacks in the country, while the rebels claimed the regime got al-Qaeda to bomb the buildings to make the rebels look bad.

Apparently determined not to give credence to either side, UN Special Envoy Kofi Annan expressed concern that the terrorists were a “third element” fighting in the civil war, distinct from either the regime or the rebels. This is a difficult case to make, however, since the terror attacks have exclusively targeted the regime.

Author: Jason Ditz

Jason Ditz is Senior Editor for Antiwar.com. He has 20 years of experience in foreign policy research and his work has appeared in The American Conservative, Responsible Statecraft, Forbes, Toronto Star, Minneapolis Star-Tribune, Providence Journal, Washington Times, and the Detroit Free Press.