Future Movement Knee-deep in Syria
Jamal Shoueib
When the Syrian crisis freshly erupted, Walid Boustani, Lebanese, moved to Syria after he fled Roumieh prison in 2010, hence raising many doubts on the connivance of Lebanese security services to facilitate the escape of some Fatah-al-Islam cons to be used later in fighting the Syrian regime.
Another person, named Khaled Hammoud and unduly freed on bail on August 9, 2011, has declared himself the Prince of Jund al-Sham, and named himself Abu Suleiman Mouhajer (the emigrant). In his statement number 1, he called for Jihad "to establish the rule of Allah on earth." Mahmoud harbored in Qalaat-al-Hosn in Homs to attack the Syrian army, displace the Syrian people, and then set the pillars of his Emirate.
Future Movement's involvement in Syria is not just confined to helping Fatah-al-Islam flee jail and transferring them to Syria to fight the Syrian army. Facts later proved that the Movement's military wing, under the command of Amid Hammoud, is implicated in the fighters' training, arming, and moving to Lebanon, in addition to weapons smuggling via the sea from Libya to Turkey then to Tripoli seaport in north Lebanon. The party also supervises the tremendous weapons stockpiles in Tripoli's Abi Samra; and the scandalous Lutfallah II arms-loaded ship just capped Future's direct involvement in carnages in Syria.
Amid Hammoud himself uncovered, in a press talk with al-Akhbar daily on October 23, 2012, that Saad Hariri offered to hand him the dossier of "Ansar al-Mustaqbal" (Future's Supporters), Future Movement's armed forces. Hammoud said, "I refused at first, because I was not sure of myself, especially that they counted more than 15 thousand individuals." Little did Hariri care; he handed him the dossier. He asked him for a proposal within three weeks. Hammoud recalled that he had prepared a comprehensive study on adherents, revealing that he had even asked for the aid of intelligence officers. He related how he visited Hariri after the deadline expired, saying, "They are the reason behind your defeat in May."
Hammoud denied he had recruited gunmen to fight in Syria, but he confirmed he provided money to Syrians and suggested names of arms traders.
Regardless of the names involved in Lutafallh II, too many evidences prove the knee-deep involvement of Future Movement and its military wing in the operation, or in a part of it. In fact, the ship was supposed to arrive at Tripoli seaport where it'd be discharged then transferred to Akkar and then to the Syrian soil, all under the supervision of Future Movement. Moreover, it is probable that after the related investigations, Future has intended to press for sealing this case.
All this happened before the first martyr of Hizbullah fell, namely Mudjahed Ali Nassif. He was declared martyrized on September 30, 2012.
These on-the-ground facts were preceded by political events that confirmed the implication of Future Movement in conspiring against Syria, noting Hariri's speech in April 2011, where he announced he would return in Beirut soon via Damascus Airport. The former Prime actually depicted his comeback as that of the victorious after the downfall of the Syrian regime, which leads to wonder about how he can possibly deny involvement in Syria while he previously adopts a presumed victory.
Hariri himself has called the international community for military intervention in Syria and for gearing up the Syrian opposition to win the conflict.
French Le Monde newspaper has quoted Hariri as saying that the Syrian regime would eventually fall.
Many statements by Future Movement's officials are worth bearing in mind. For instance, the party's secretary general, Ahmad Hariri, said in a festival in Tariq Jdideh on 28/4/2012, in a speech devoted to support rebels, "The Syrian people is calling you, the sons of Beirut and Tariq Jdideh. Heroes always look for heroes. And freemen always care for freemen." He prodded the locality's locals to brace themselves because "the Arab Spring has not ended yet," adding, "Get ready, Tariq Jdideh, to support the rebels. The heroes of the Free Syrian Army are asking for you."
These calls are not just a political or media support. On August 6, 2012, Abdul Wahad Dandashi from Tariq Jdideh was killed in Syria. He was the brother of Mujahed Dandashi, also killed in Syria in early 2012.
Last May, Hussein Hussein was bid farewell in Wadi Khaled. He was killed in a battle with the Syrian army when a group of gunmen tried to infiltrate into the Syrian soil. Another body was also found, while three injured were admitted to a nearby hospital.
Furthermore, a Lebanese carrying the Swedish nationality, Moatasem Khaldoun Hussein, carried out the first suicidal attack for a Lebanese in Syria. He blew himself up in a checkpoint for the Syrian army in the Talkalakh region of Hosn. His brother Hussein, 21, was also killed at this very checkpoint just hours after the first operation.
Speaking of the involvement of Future Movement and its allies in Syria, Talkalakh ambush is not to be shrugged off. 22 Lebanese from Tripoli and the north were killed, on their way to Syria to fight alongside the opposition.
Moreover, the events of Tripoli and Bireh just added to the scandal as a huge number of the opposition gunmen were announced to be present in Lebanon. They were said to have adopted some cities and towns as back bases. They are known for their loyalty to Future officials, especially in Arsal, the region with the most salient role in all this. In this Bekaa town, field hospitals abound to treat the injured Syrian gunmen. It also harbors the majority of their leaders and comprises the key arms stocks, controlled by Future's loyalists.
