Terrorist Organization Profile:
Strugglers for the Unity and Freedom of Greater Syria

Little is known about the group beyond its claims of responsibility for these attacks. Some allege this organization is merely a front for Syrian Intelligence, although this claim is thus far unsubstantiated. However, it appears unlikely that an attack characterized by this degree of sophistication could have been carried out by a previously inactive group such as the Strugglers.

The attacks claimed by this group came amidst a backdrop of growing Syria-Lebanon tensions. Syrian authorities have exerted increased influence over Lebanese political affairs since first sending troops to the country during the Lebanese civil war in 1976. A 2004 United Nations Security Council resolution calling for Syria's withdrawal of troops fueled the escalation of tensions and provided a motive for Syrian hostility towards outspoken Lebanese critics. In February 2005, Rafik Hariri, a former Lebanese Prime Minister and outspoken critic of the Syrian regime was assassinated and a United Nations report issued the day of the Tueni assassination implicated Syrian officials in the attack.

On December 27, 2005, a Syrian national named Abdel-Qader Abdel-Qader was arrested and accused of having a role in the Tueni assassination plot. Abdel-Qader was allegedly in close proximity to the attack and made suspicious telephone calls before and after the attack on Tueni's motorcade. As yet, a formal link between Abdel-Qader and The Strugglers for the Unity and Freedom of Greater Syria has not been established.

Learn more about these U.S. Department of State classifications:

Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTOs)

Terrorist Exclusion List (TEL)