Bus Attacked in Northern Lebanon

By Brandon Kaufman
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

TRIPOLI, Lebanon–   A bus carrying Syrian workers came under fire Monday in northern Lebanon.  One person was confirmed killed and several others were reported injured by shattered glass during the attack.
The bus was transporting Syrian workers along one of the main highways between northern Lebanon and Syria near an army checkpoint in the Deir Emar district, approximately three miles north of Tripoli.

According to an eyewitness, the vehicle’s tires were riddled with bullet holes and several of the windows on the driver’s side were shattered by the shots.  The person killed was believed to be a seventeen year old migrant worker.

A Syrian police official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said that gunmen were responsible for the attack although he acknowledged that no motive was known.  In addition to the lone fatality,  three other people were wounded by flying glass on board the bus which was carrying twenty-five Syrian workers.

Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Muallem described the attack as a criminal act and pledged to inform his Lebanese counterpart of the results of the investigation, the identity of the attackers, and who was behind the shooting without delay.

The attack came a day after Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri and Syrian President Bashar Assad met for two days in Damascus.  The talks between the two leaders were said to be positive according to the Syrian Arab News Agency.

At a press conference held at the Lebanese Embassy, Prime Minister Hariri told reporters that he was optimistic about the growing diplomatic relationship between the two countries.  “We want to have good relations with Syria based on openness and honesty,” Hariri was quoted as saying, conveying the hope that the two neighboring countries would come to a fresh start after decades of war and animosity.  President Assad echoed similar statements saying that he was optimistic about progress for the future.

For more information, please see:

Gulf Times- Lebanon Shooting Kills Syria Worker– 22 December 2009

BBC News- Bus Carrying Syrian Workers Attacked in Lebanon– 21 December 2009

The Jerusalem Post- Hariri, Assad Hold Second Meeting– 20 December 2009

Author: Impunity Watch Archive