Syrians Concerned at Islamist Presence in Lebanon

High-level political sources in Syria have told Al-Watan newspaper that the authorities have a right to be concerned about the presence of Islamic extremists, in northern Lebanon and have attacked politicians who accuse Damascus of interference.



President Bashar al-Assad has asked his Lebanese counterpart Michel Suleiman to send more troops to the northern city of Tripoli to fight Sunni groups who have clashed with Alawites there.



Assad warned that extremism was spreading in the north of Lebanon.



Leading Lebanese politician Saad Hariri, who is leading reconciliation efforts between Sunnis and Alawites and is a leader of the March 14 coalition, seen as anti-Syrian, said Damascus was using the unrest in Tripoli to exert military control over Lebanon again. He also accused Syria of backing extremists in the north.



Al-Watan newspaper, which is close to the Syrian government, reported on September 8 that high-level sources were irked by the criticism. They argued that when Egyptian and French officials expressed similar concerns about northern Lebanon, their comments had not been taken as interfering in the country’s internal affairs.



The sources said that Syria was affected by growing extremism in Lebanon and therefore has a right to discuss it. If it were simply to close its eyes to the problem, this would create risks both for itself and for Lebanon, they said.



The sources accused March 14 leaders of bearing a grudge against Syria, and of fearing the emerging relationship between Paris and Damascus.