Terrorism in Syria

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Terrorism in Syria comes primarily from Kurdish separatists and Lebanese nationalists. Both groups tend to view Syria as a foreign occupying power.^{[citation needed]} The United States government accuses the government of Syria of sponsoring terrorism, specifically through its past and current support for such organizations asHezbollah, 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]

1 Cooperation with Iraq
2 State terrorism
3 References
4 External links

[edit] 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 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]

[edit] 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 American public broadcaster PBS.^[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 (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. 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 an anti-Syrian 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 Emile 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: http://www.dailystar.com.lb/article.asp?edition_id=1&categ_id=2&article_id=17019
(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.