More trouble in the Levant

The massive car bomb in Beirut that killed Lebanon’s top intelligence officer among others has been blamed on the deteriorating situation in neighbouring Syria. General Wissam al-Hassan was a critic of the al-Assad regime and many see the hand of Damascus at work, if not directly, then through their political allies, Hezbollah.  It wouldn’t be surprising since Assad has chosen to escalate the crisis at every opportunity in the last year and a half, confident in the protection of Russia.

One feels that the Lebanese tourist ministry won’t be pursuing the defamation case against the TV series Homeland anymore, with the implication from the drama that Beirut was riddled with terrorists.  Even if this bomb proves to be an isolated incident, instead of a precursor of things to come,  no court would rule in favour of the Lebanese government.