Syria censures deadly bombings in Lebanese capital

The Syrian Interior Ministry has strongly condemned recent terrorist attacks in neighboring Lebanon’s capital, Beirut, saying such crimes are aimed at spreading terrorism in the Middle East.

According to Syria’s official news agency SANA, the Syrian ministry said in a Thursday statement that such acts of violence targeting civilians in Beirut “are clearly aimed at undermining the Lebanese state and people.”

The ministry further expressed readiness to cooperate with the Lebanese Interior Ministry in countering terrorism and tracking down the “terrorists” who seek to destabilize Syria, Lebanon and the entire Middle East.

On February 19, at least five people were reported killed and several others injured in two bomb attacks in Beirut’s southern Bir Hassan neighborhood near the Iranian Cultural Chancellery and the Kuwaiti Embassy.

The al-Qaeda-linked Abdullah Azzam Brigades has claimed responsibility for the bombings.

In a similar statement on Wednesday, Syrian Prime Minister Wael al-Halqi censured the assaults, saying, “The countries that harbor, finance and support terrorism with money and weapons are responsible for the explosions.”

Syrian Information Minister Omran al-Zoubi also said the Middle East is grappling with “one terrorist scheme,” stressing that the parties which support and fund the terrorists must be held accountable for their actions.

The Lebanese capital has been repeatedly hit by similar terrorist attacks in recent months.

In November 2013, over two dozen people, including Iran’s cultural attaché in Beirut, were killed and at least 150 others were injured after two explosions struck near the Iranian Embassy in southern Beirut. The November bombings were also claimed by the so-called Abdullah Azzam Brigades.

The group’s Saudi leader Majid al-Majid was arrested in early January and died days later from poor health in a Lebanese military hospital. Majid was a high-profile terrorist also wanted by several other countries.