At noon local time on Valentine’s Day (February 14), a massive bombing, believed to have involved a car bomb, struck central Beirut, the capital of Lebanon. At least 13 people, including former Prime Minister Hariri, were killed, and about 100 were injured. The attack is believed to have targeted the former prime minister. It was the country’s worst terrorist attack since the civil war ended in 1990.
The former prime minister had long been a political rival of President Lahoud. He resigned as prime minister last October in opposition to extending the term of President Lahoud, who was strongly backed by Syria, but he had been seeking a political comeback in the general election this May. This has raised suspicions that pro-Syrian forces were involved.
Former Prime Minister Hariri, who made his fortune in construction, was one of the Arab world’s wealthiest people. He served as prime minister from 92 to 98 and from 00 to 04. When leaders of the Japanese Red Army and others were detained in Lebanon in 97, he cooperated with the Japanese investigation. To me, he was also the father of an acquaintance, the president of Epok Inc.
May he rest in peace.
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