A Syrian al-Qaida-inspired group on Tuesday warned of attacks on Lebanese interests and citizens if the government does not lift its siege off Fatah al-Islam militants besieged in the northern Palestinian refugee camp of Nahr al-Bared. In a Web statement, the group Tawhid and Jihad ( their full name is Jamaat al-Tawhid wal-Jihad ) in Syria promised its support for the camp's fighters. | Tawhid used to be Zark's bunch, and he kept it going as a separate concern after he began Qaeda in Iraq. I think it's now a confederation of similar-minded takfiri. |
Tawhid and Jihad in Syria first became known in November, when its former leader Omar Abdullah clashed with Syrian security forces and blew himself up on the border with Lebanon. Al-Dimashqi then issued a May 28 audiotape claiming to be the group's new leader and calling on Syrians to kill Syrian President Bashar Assad and on other Arabs to topple their leaders as well. "Tawhid and Jihad" -- Arabic for "monotheism and holy war" -- is a name used by several groups apparently inspired by al-Qaida -- though their actual links to Osama bin Laden are not clear. Al-Qaida in Iraq formerly went by the name. The most prominent militant group in Syria is known as Jund al-Sham, but it is sometimes called the Jund al-Sham for Jihad and Tawhid.
The statement did not say when or where al-Dimashqi allegedly met with Fatah al-Islam's representative, whom it identified as the group's "security coordinator." It said the representative "explained the ideology of the group, its aims to support Islam and the establishment of the State of Islam, which is a dream for every Muslim." Tawhid and Jihad promised to support Fatah al-Islam, saying "Jews, Christians and the malevolent Crusaders in Lebanon and in Europe ... (and) Lebanese officials -- France and America's dogs, weaned on the breast of treason -- have all rushed to help against the brothers of Fatah al-Islam."