Reports: Syrian al-Qaeda Car Bombs Sent to Lebanon

Rebel Faction Had Threatened to Target 'Hezbollah Strongholds'

Syrian al-Qaeda faction Jabhat al-Nusra has reportedly snuck four “rigged cars” filled with explosives into neighboring Lebanon, according to a leaked security memo which emerged in the Lebanese media.

The cars apparently crossed into Lebanon through the border town of Arsal, and have been sent on from there deeper into Lebanon, with one of them reportedly sporting faked Hezbollah identification.

This report comes just a day after Jabhat al-Nusra issued a statement threatening to target “Hezbollah strongholds” in Lebanon in retaliation for the Shi’ite militia’s involvement in the ongoing Syrian civil war.

Nusra has favored the use of car bombs in recent attacks, including one today in the Syrian city of Hama that killed at least 37. They have often threatened attacks in Shi’ite neighborhoods in Lebanon as well, with some attacks already launched and more apparently in the works.

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.