DAILY SCOPE: Terrorist Attack Targets Lebanese Civilians in Damascus: Message to Hizbullah

NEWSPAPERS HEADLINES:

AL-AKHBAR:

"Al-Nusra Front" Responds to Hizbullah in Damascus
 
ASSAFIR:

"Tough" Dialogue Session Tomorrow and Removal of Slogans This Week
"Nusra's" Terrorism Pursues Lebanese: 6 Martyrs in Damascus
 
AN-NAHAR:

"Nusra" Responds to Hizbullah by Blowing up Innocent People

AL-MUSTAQBAL:
 
National consensus rebuffs "terror acts against humanity"

THE DAILYSTAR:
 
Six Lebanese Killed in Damascus Bus Blast

Lebanese newspapers dealt with the terrorist explosion that targeted Lebanese pilgrims in Syria on Sunday. 6 Lebanese martyrs and 22 injured were claimed in a terrorist bombing which targeted on Sunday a bus at a parking lot in the neighborhood of al-Kallaseh in Damascus.

The bus was transporting Lebanese pilgrims from the shrine of Sayyeda Ruqayya (AS) to that of Sayyeda Zainab (AS), when an explosive device, planted in the vehicle at the parking lot, was detonated.

This made headlines as it was seen as an awful terrorist crime targeting the resistance, with the sole and first benefit to the Zionist enemy that supports the terrorist groups.

Starting with as-Safir newspaper, Speaker Nabih Berri stressed that the criticism of Hizbullah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah's speech would not have repercussions on the fifth round of talks between Hizbullah and the Future party despite contrary claims by Interior Minister Nouhad al-Mashnouq. "Negative remarks against Nasrallah's speech won't impact the dialogue, whose fifth round is set to take place in Ain el-Tineh on Tuesday," Berri told the paper.

Sayyed Nasrallah had delivered a speech on Friday in which he tackled the latest Qunaitra "Israeli" aggression last Sunday and the resistance's retaliation in Shebaa farms later on Wednesday.
"The dialogue is ongoing and starting this week the Lebanese will witness Beirut clear of all posters and banners for the Amal Movement, Hizbullah and Future party," Berri told his visitors.

As for the terrorist attack that targeted Lebanese civilians who had to pay the price of extremism in the region, the paper pointed out that the bus had visitors who were heading to the holy shrines in Damascus when the bus was targeted. Initial news said it was a suicide-bomber who attacked the bus, yet as-Safir quoted Syrian police later assuring it was a planted explosive. Looking into the whereabouts of the attack, the paper among many points stressed that "The attack took place two days only following the Hizbullah Secretary General's speech on Friday, in which he accused al-Nusra front of being the natural ally of "Israel" describing it as a new ‘Lahd army', which implies that the terrorist attack is aimed at delivering a message to Hizbullah."

The paper also stressed that "The terrorist attack taking place in Damascus implies that the terrorist groups are unable to penetrate the security measures taken in Lebanon."

On the same note, Interior minister Nuhad al-Mashnouq told As-Safir that the attack on the Lebanese pilgrims' bus in Damascus is an unforgivable crime which targeted innocent civilians, who were unjustly murdered. He stressed there is no political or sectarian reason that can justify such an act, presenting his condolences to the families of the martyrs.

In light of the latest developments, ministerial sources told an-Nahar newspaper that the cabinet situation is still confined to safeguarding the government and taking into consideration the diverse viewpoints of the numerous parties and groups in Lebanon, assuring that the dialogue between Hizbullah and the Future party is ongoing.

The European commissioner for humanitarian aid and crisis management has said that terrorism is a common enemy with Lebanon Christos Stylianides told an-Nahar daily in an interview published on Monday "We have a common enemy which is terrorism, and it is beneficial to have deeper cooperation in that regard."
"Terrorist attacks are not against a certain religion or civilization. We have a common enemy and people are assaulting our joint legacy," he added.
Stylianides revealed that the role of European peacekeepers in the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon would be the subject of discussion at the meeting of EU foreign ministers in Brussels on Monday.

Meanwhile, Security sources told al-Akhbar newspaper, [in contrary to police information], that a suicide-bomber exploited the return of the pilgrims to the bus and joined them, where he exploded himself inside the bus. This came at a time al-Nusra front also claimed responsibility to the terrorist attack, announcing that the terrorist suicide-bomber is a Saudi named Abu Izz al-Ansari.