ISIS’ bombings in Beirut isn’t that far away from Israel. Sign showing the distance between Jerusalem and Lebanese capital city. Illustrative. By Joshua Spurlock
The terror group ISIS (ISIL) has reportedly struck again in Lebanon, with a trio of suicide bombers killing dozens and wounding hundreds in the capital of Beirut, according to CNN. But the suspects could include a terror twist, as two of the killers may have been Palestinians recruits of ISIS. CNN cited a government source as saying that police were looking into those claims. Palestinian terrorists have run afoul of Lebanese security forces in the past, but suicide bombings in the capital would be unusually high profile attacks.
ISIS took responsibility for Thursday’s bombings, as one of the terrorists survived and claimed the radical group was behind the attacks, which CNN noted took place in an area known for its ties to Hezbollah. The Lebanese terror group has long been fighting ISIS and other rebels in Syria’s civil war, leading to reprisal attacks in neighboring Lebanon.
The US was quick to condemn Thursday’s “attack on civilians.” Said spokesman Mark Toner in comments released by the State Department, “Today’s events are a troubling reminder of the tremendous challenges Lebanon buy valium topix still faces. Terrorism, such as today’s attacks, seeks to undermine the freedom and security that the people of Lebanon have worked so hard to achieve. We fully support the Lebanese authorities as they conduct their investigation into this act of terror.”
The strikes occurred the same day that US President Barack Obama discussed ISIS with the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. Calling ISIS by it’s alternate name ISIL, a press statement from the White House website said the two leaders “reaffirmed their support for the moderate Syrian opposition and committed to increase pressure on ISIL. Separately, the President and Crown Prince discussed how to best support the Iraqi Government’s efforts to combat ISIL.”
But even as the US, Middle Eastern nations, and Russia have all reportedly been battling ISIS inside Iraq and Syria, the terror group looks to be expanding the scale of its attacks outside those nations. Thursday’s triple suicide bombing in Lebanon comes less than two weeks after a bomb is believed to have blown up a Russian airliner flying over Egypt. Intel from ISIS is shedding light on that attack, according to CNN, raising questions over the group’s involvement.
(By Joshua Spurlock, www.themideastupdate.com, November 12, 2015)