Tuesday, October 25, 2005

Jund Ash-Sham: are out in the open. People who know on this matter in Lebanon, especially the very well-informed expert on Islamic affairs Qasim Qasir of Al-Mustaqbal newspaper, assure me that Jund Ash-Sham is a very small group, and that An-Nahar for obvious reasons exaggerates its significance and role. The leader of Jund Ash-Sham, Abu Ramiz As-Suhmurani (nicknamed the Tough Guy, or Ash-Sharis) spoke to the press for the first time, discussing the clashes between Lebanese groups in Ta`mir area near Sidon. He accused agents of Lebanese government of triggering the clashes. That echoes the opinion voiced by Usamah Sa`d.