Abdullah Azzam Brigades urges attacks against Hezbollah, not the Army

BEIRUT: The Al-Qaeda-affiliated Abdullah Azzam Brigades called on Tripoli residents to attack Hezbollah rather than the Lebanese Army, saying the latter was merely a tool in the hands of the group.

“I am addressing our youth in Tripoli to say to them that the Lebanese Army and security agencies are merely tools in the hands of the party,” Sirajeddine Zureiqat, the newly appointed "emir" of the jihadist group, said on his Twitter feed.

Hezbollah is the "the puppet master of the Army and other agencies, as well as the [party behind the] rise of some Sunni spies, including the Resistance Brigades and some media.”

“Therefore, strike the puppet master and do not get preoccupied with the tools. If the head is broken, the hands become paralyzed.”

Zureiqat was referring to recent attacks against Lebanese Army soldiers in the northern city of Tripoli. Last week, a soldier was killed and another wounded in Rihaniyeh, in the northern Akkar province, when gunmen opened fire on them as they headed for duty.

The Brigades have claimed responsibility for two suicide attacks in Beirut, including the Iranian embassy twin bombing last year that killed about 30 people, and a twin blast at the Iranian cultural center in February.

Like other jihadist groups, Abdullah Azzam justifies its attacks in Lebanon by pointing to Hezbollah's intervention in the Syrian war on the side of government forces.

Zureiqat, who has a warrant out against him, warned Tripoli residents against a battle with the Lebanese Army, saying such a conflict would only benefit Hezbollah.

“Be aware our people in Tripoli, you are being dragged into a battle with the Army for Hezbollah.”

“You have the party's centers, checkpoints, supply lines, leaders and members across Lebanon. Kill them and avenge the children of Lebanon and Syria.”

Zureiqat also said Hezbollah had long protected Israel’s interests, adding that the group had committed crimes against Sunnis and other sects whose communities opposed the party.

"Hezbollah was a loyal guard to Israel since 1996 and the July 2006 war play was nothing more than [Hezbollah] breaking the rules of engagement with Israel that have already been agreed to; and it legitimized its presence.”

“This party has also dominated the security agencies, primarily the Army intelligence and General Security, and made those two a tool to persecute Sunnis.”