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Terrorism in Syria comes primarily from Sunni
Islamists. The United States government accuses the
government of Syria of sponsoring what some consider terrorism, specifically
through its past and current support for such organizations as Hezbollah, HAMAS, Palestinian Islamic Jihad, the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine
General Command, the Popular Front
for the Liberation of Palestine, the Democratic
Front for the Liberation of Palestine, the Abu Musa
Organization, and the Popular Struggle
Front.[1]
Cooperation with Iraq
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad met with Iraqi President Jalal Talabani in Syria on 21 January 2007 and discussed terrorism
in the Middle East
and the situation in Iraq. They
issued a joint statement condemning "all forms of terrorism
plaguing the Iraqi people and their institutions, infrastructure
and security service." Assad and Talabani expressed "readiness to
work together and do everything possible to eradicate
terrorism."[2]
State
terrorism
Several groups and individuals have claimed that Syria engages
in state
sponsored terrorism.
The leaders of many of these groups live in Damascus, including Ramadan Shalah, the
Secretary-General of Islamic Jihad; his deputy Ziad Nehaleh; Imad
al-Alami, a senior Hamas operative; other leading Palestinians such
as Ahmed Jibril,
George Habash
and Nayef Hawatmeh live in Syria. Syria also facilitated the
presence of these groups in Lebanon, particularly in the Beka'a Valley, where Hezbollah engages in
narcotics production and large-scale currency forgery.
The Syrian government itself has been accused of engaging in
state sponsored terrorism by President George W. Bush and by the U.S. State Department
from 1979 to today.[3] The
European Community met on November 10, 1986 to discuss the Hindawi Affair, an attempt to bomb an El Al flight out of London, and the subsequent arrest
and trial in the UK of Nizar Hindawi, who allegedly received Syrian
government support after the bombing, and possibly beforehand.[4] The
European response was to impose sanctions against Syria and state
that these measures were intended "to send Syria the clearest
possible message that what has happened is absolutely
unacceptable."[5]
However, Syria has assisted the United States and other
governments in their opposition to al-Qaeda. This include Syria's efforts in
stemming the flow of al-Qaeda backed fighters from crossing into
Iraq along its border. (Country Reports on Terrorism, Office of the
Coordinator for Counterterrorism, April 27, 2005).
Numerous assassinations of opponents of Syria and the Syrian
government have been alleged to involve the Syrian government.
Syria and its supporters claim that no substantial evidence has
been produced to prove these allegations.
- (December 2005) Gebran Tueni, an anti-Syrian journalist and lawmaker was
assassinated.[6]
- (September 2005) May
Chidiac an anti-Syrian journalist and political
commentator was severely injured in an assassination attempt
against her life.[7]
- (June 2005) Samir
Kassir, an anti-Syrian journalist was
assassinated.[8]
- (June 2005) George
Hawi a Communist politician was assassinated.
- (February 2005) Rafik Hariri was killed by a car bomb which
killed ten others. Hariri was a known opponent of the pro-Syrian
policies of Émile
Lahoud. The opposition parties in Lebanon accuse Syria of
orchestrating the assassination.[9]
- (October 2004) Failed assassination attempt against anti-Syrian
politician Marwan Hmade. He had demanded Syrian withdrawal from
Lebanon.
- (May 2002) Assassination of anti-Syrian-occupation activist
Ramzi Irani whose body was found in the boot of his car, nearly two
weeks after his kidnapping.
- (October 1990) Assassination of Lebanese leader, Dany Chamoun and his
wife and two children immediately following Syrian occupation.
- (August 1987) Assassination of Dr. Mohammad Choucair, an
advisor to Lebanese President Amine Gemayel was killed inside his home
in the Syrian-controlled part of West Beirut on August 2,
1987.
- (October 1986) Assassination of Sheikh Soubhi Saleh, the head
of the Islamic Sunni Higher Council.
- (September 1982) Assassination of Lebanese President-elect Bashir Gemayel (1947-1982) who was killed
along with many others in the bombing of his party's Beirut
headquarters.
- (July 1980) Assassination of Riad Taha, a prominent journalist.
(Also read recent article "Journalists and politicians pay tribute
to legacy of Riad Taha" dated July 23, 2005).[10]
- (February 1980) Assassination of Selim Lowzi, a prominent
journalist who opposed the Syrian regime.
- (March 1977) Assassination of Kamal Jumblatt, a Lebanese Druze leader near a Syrian
checkpoint after he publicly criticized the Syrian invasion of
Lebanon.
Success in democratic reform, stability and prosperity in Iraq is likely to have a positive
effect on neighboring countries (Syria included).
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