BEIRUT, Lebanon – On the morning of December 12, a car bomb exploded and killed General Francois al-Hajj.  He had left his home in Baabda, a suburb of Beirut, minute earlier and was on his way to the Ministry of Defense when a parked car, filled with explosives, was triggered.  The Explosion left a crater two meters across and a meter deep and set fire to several cars nearby.  Hajj, his bodyguard, and his driver were killed in an explosion, which left a crater two meters across.

Hajj is the eighth assassination in Lebanon since former Prime Minister Hariri was killed in 2005.  However, this is the first attack on a high ranking member of the military.  The military is seen as neutral and as the only institution capable of maintaining peace and stability in Lebanon.  The attack has caused outrage amongst both pro-government and the Pro-Syrian opposition and both sides have condemned the attack.  So far no group has claimed responsibility for the attack; however, one suspect has been detained.

Hajj was the chief of operations during this summer’s fifteen week battle against the Islamist militants in Nahr al-Bared refugee camp.  If General Suleiman is elected president, it was thought that Hajj would succeed Suleiman as the army’s chief of staff.

For more information, please see:
Al Jazeera – Lebanon Blast Kills Army General – 12 December 2007

The Associated Press – Car Bomb Kills General in Lebanon – 12 December 2007

BBC – Blast Kills Lebanon Army General – 12 December 2007

The Daily Star – General Among Four Killed in Lebanon Car Bomb – 12 December 2007

The Guardian – Lebanon Bomb Kills Senior General – 12 December 2007

Middle East Times – Bomb Strikes at Core of Lebanon Army – 12 December 2007

The New York Times – General Killed in Bomb Attack in Lebanon – 12 December 2007