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Report: Syria Planned Killing of 36 Lebanese

The Lebanese security establishment has uncovered a Syrian plot to assassinate 36 Lebanese personalities, the Lebanese daily Al-Mustaqbal reported.

The report did not specify the names or political affiliation of the targets, but analysts believe the plot is aiming for anti-Syrian figures.

Al-Mustaqbal belongs to the family of the late Lebanese prime minister, Rafiq Al-Hariri, an outspoken critic of Syria’s involvement in Lebanon, who was blown up by a car bomb in February 2005 in Beirut.

The plot was revealed following the arrest of a Syrian and a Saudi, who admitted to belonging to a group of some 200 operatives sent from Damascus into Lebanon to carry out the plan, the paper reported.

The two detainees said they belonged to Fatah Al-Intifa’da, a Palestinian breakaway group of Fatah, which enjoys Syrian backing. They were arrested for their suspected involvement in the killing of two Palestinians.

They said their actions were coordinated with the Syrian Intelligence establishment and that the entire group was residing in two Palestinian refugee camps in Lebanon, Bidawi camp and Burj Al-Barajna.

Fatah Al-Intifa’da is disassociating itself from the network.

The recent assassination of Lebanese Industry Minister Pierre Amin Gemayel has sparked fears of further attacks on anti-Syrian personalities. The murder was the latest in a series of high-profile killings of outspoken anti-Syrian politicians and journalists since Al-Hariri’s assassination.

Syria’s military officially left Lebanon following public outrage at Al-Hariri’s slaying.

However, Lebanese sources have told The Media Line they believe Damascus is still controlling many aspects of official life in Lebanon and is smuggling weapons across the border to Hizbullah.

Anti-Syrian Lebanese officials have accused Syria of orchestrating killings and continuing to exert influence over Lebanese affairs. Damascus denies these accusations.