International political sources are discussing information that was released by the head of the Internal Security Forces, Maj. Gen. Ashraf Rifi, at the Human Rights Parliamentary Committee, including the details of the kidnappings of Syrians opposition figures in Lebanon. Rifi noted that the ISF had additional information on the subject that would be made public later.

These kidnappings were behind U.S. Ambassador to Lebanon Maura Connelly’s statements that Syrian dissidents in Lebanon should be protected, as well as the recent warning issued by foreign embassies advising their nationals to use caution in the country.

Aside from the country’s various security issues – from car thefts and murders to armed conflict between the Lebanese Army and outlaws – diplomatic reports issued two weeks ago indicated that Lebanon generally enjoys security and safety to a great extent, especially relative to the situation in neighboring states that are currently awaiting the outcomes of the popular uprisings against their regimes.

There has been, however, increasing concern in Western capitals and from their ambassadors in Beirut that some areas in Lebanon are now beyond the state’s control. The diplomats are likewise concerned with attempts to sow fear through chaos and security disturbances.

Although there is reason to worry about security incidents in south Lebanon following attacks against UNIFIL, European diplomats do not consider that the south is dangerous for diplomats, military personnel, civilians or tourists. The situation is completely different in the Bekaa, however, where many areas, in their opinion, are not under the control of the state.

One diplomat said that there’s serious fear of kidnappings of foreigners by groups linked to regional powers in neighborhoods and towns in the Bekaa that are not under the authority of Hezbollah. Some of the groups operating there are Iraqi, the diplomat said, adding that he knows of one Iraqi organization that has established a training center in central Bekaa with fighters from Syria, Saudi Arabia and Iraq.

The diplomat said there are also suspicious activities in the Zahle villages of Qousaya and Taalabaya which are witnessing the transportation of reinforcements to the nearby military bases of Fatah al-Intifada, a splinter group of Fatah headed by Abu Musa. The reinforcements are reported to include ground-to-air missiles, artillery and ammunition.

According to the diplomats, there is fear of these movements in particular, rather than those of Hezbollah, whose secretary-general, Sayyed Hasan Nasrallah, openly boasts of any military operations.