Speaking to Al-Akhbar, a commander in al-Nusra Front denied the appointment of "Emirs" from the front or from ISIS to manage the conflict in Lebanon. He revealed that both organizations are cooperating with "agents" to carry out bombings "meant to convey messages to Hezbollah."
The secrets of the bombings witnessed by Lebanon have not been revealed yet. Even the identities of some of the suicide bombers are still unknown. DNA tests conducted for forensic evidence have not assisted security forces who are still confused about the identity of the perpetrators.
There are still some questions about the attacks, which already took place, concerning the "failure of some to achieve their goals," the fact that some of the operations only led to the killing of the bomber, and "the low average losses of two or three victims." The only exceptions were the Iranian embassy attack and the Roueiss bombing, which registered the highest number of victims.
As for the background of the situation, there are only a few scenarios in circulation. They are based on information provided by suspects arrested for crimes of terrorism, who spoke of bombing schemes and planned suicide attacks against Dahiyeh, the Lebanese army, and Iranian interests in Lebanon involving two or three persons. The accusations are pointing to the three most prominent fundamentalist organizations on the field: al-Nusra Front, the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria/Levant (ISIS), and the Abdullah Azzam Brigades.
But did the ensuing arrests lead to weakening the capacities of al-Nusra and ISIS or are they unable to carry out major bombings in Lebanon, similar to those carried out in Iraq? The question is answered by a leader in al-Nusra Front in an interview with Al-Akhbar.
"Of course not. The two organizations possess the logistical and practical capacity to conduct such operations. However, in reality, the leadership of both organizations have not decided, yet, to break open the conflict on the Lebanese arena," he explains.
But he did not deny the possibility that this might change soon, maybe in just a few days, in light of developments on the Qalamoun front.
The aforementioned commander bases his comment on an issue, which is "fundamental to clarify the picture," saying "there are no emirs from al-Nusra Front or ISIS in Lebanon."
He says that "al-Nusra has not appointed an emir in Lebanon, neither did ISIS." Both organizations are working with "agents" in Lebanon, like Naim Abbas, he explains. The commander backs up his version based on the content of confessions leaked to the media, which said that detainees held by Lebanese security services worked with several organizations at the same time. He maintains this reinforces the "theory of agents and not the original."
"The jihadi method makes it imperative for individuals to swear allegiance and commitment to one organization," he adds. "Thus, they are not allowed to work for and under the leadership of another organization." He also reveals that "most of those arrested by security forces are involved in the execution and had nothing to do with planning or strategy, as rumored in the media." He says it was likely that an agent is being contacted for such operations, since the arrest of Abbas did not stop these types of bombings.
"Neither al-Nusra nor ISIS are incapable of conducting operations similar to those in Iraq," he indicates. "The target field in Lebanon is open and very wide. If the aim was to attack Shia or Hezbollah, it would be possible to conduct bombings in the South and the Bekaa, not just in Dahiyeh." As for the actual bombings, he puts them in the context of "messages to Hezbollah as a result of its intervention in Syria." He explains that targeting civilians is also "a message to the party's support to exert pressure for its withdrawal from Syria."
While the commander confirms that Naim Abbas was not working within the organizational framework of the Abdullah Azzam Brigades, he reveals that it is the only organization active in Lebanon as a "land of struggle and jihad." He stresses his point by indicating that the Roueiss and Iranian embassy bombings, which led to the highest number of casualties, were adopted by the Brigades, while the operations adopted by al-Nusra and ISIS led to "a few casualties" in comparison.
"The time has not yet come to open the Lebanese arena," he continues. However, "the jihadi leadership is firmly convinced that Hezbollah's existence is linked to the survival of the Syrian regime. Thus, the fall of the regime will lead to its automatic collapse in Lebanon."
On the other hand, the commander denies the news about the appointment of Sheikh Ahmad al-Assir as al-Nusra Front's emir, saying that Assir does not adhere to al-Qaeda's method to begin with. He maintains that Abu Sayyaf al-Ansari's request for allegiance by ISIS was rejected, because he announced it in the media before it was accepted by "ISIS emir Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, in addition to the absence of an actual decision to work formally as an emirate in Lebanon, until now."
In related news, sources close to Abdullah Azzam Brigades indicated that a new emir was appointed to lead them. But they did not reveal his identity, denying that it was one the names circulating in the media.
Follow Radwan Mortada on Twitter @radwanmortada
This article is an edited translation from the Arabic Edition.