Syrian backed assassination group uncovered

Early today a Lebanese newspaper reported that a 200 member assassination organization was uncovered this week in Lebanon. The organization (still nameless) was established by Syria and its reported goal was to carry out assassinations of 36 prominent Lebanese officials and persons of influence who oppose Syria's habit of meddling in Lebanese affairs. Syria has been an active force in Lebanon for decades and had to withdraw its forces out of Lebanon only last year as a result of pressure by the United States. But Syria's fingerprints can easily be read in great areas of internal affairs in Lebanon, such as its active support for Hezbollah and its relentless interference in Lebanese politics. Syria has also been blamed for the killing of former Lebanese Prime Minister, Rafik Hariri, last year. This killing provoked great protests in Lebanon against Syria. The recent shooting of Lebanese minister, Pierre Gemayel, is likewise perceived as an action taken by Syria to silence another of its antagonists inside Lebanon. The son of Rafik Hariri, a politician himself, called the Syrian regime: an administration of murder. Many in Lebanon fear that Syria is trying to reassert its control over Lebanon and that the killing of Gemayel will not be the last political assassination in the near future.