The Beirut Bombing

On Tuesday, November 19th, Al Qaeda organized a double suicide bombing that struck the Iranian Embassy in Beirut, killing at least 23 people, and injuring nearly 150 more. It is the deadliest assault on Iranian interests because Iran has become the most forceful supporter of the Syrian government against the variety of armed insurgent groups, and has also reshaped how the international community examines Iran's domestic and foreign policy. In the more immediate future, the double suicide bombing has emphasized the major costs and risks involved with Iranian intervention in Syria. As  Iran analyst  at Eurasia Group Cliff Kupchan expressed, "Today's event demonstrates the political and economic costs of Syria for Iran."This is because many are divided on the issue of Syrian involvement. On one hand, the international community perceives Iranian support within Syria as its event stepping stone in experiencing an Iranian version of Vietnam. On the other hand, Iran's successful transition in supporting the Syrian President Bashar al Assad has lead to an extremely international decisive influence involving a multitude of issue, wherein Iran is experiencing increases in its ability to overcome and negotiate nuclear program disputes.

Ironically, Iran and other middle eastern nations are blaming Israel as a key player in unifying different supporters and opponents of the Syrian insurgency, and are using this blaming to signal neither Iran, Hezbollah (the main military organization within Lebanon, and other do not want to immediately escalate confrontation that could possibly lead to all-out war within Lebanon. This is probably because Iran's government is facing serious pressure from hard-line political leaders within the different legislative and executive bodies, but will avoid an engagement in order to obtain a deal over it's nuclear program agenda. Therefore, the lack of retaliation from Iran is possibly, as President Mehrzd Boroujerdi, Political Science professor and Iran expert at Syracuse University, explains this is an opportune time for terrorist groups such as Al Qaeda to attack because "whoever did this was thinking the following: A, we can attack Iranians at this point in time, and the cannot lift a finger against us. Or B, we are going to force them into doing something radical, in which the world is going to have second thoughts about inviting them to Syria negotiations." As a result, the Abdullah Azzam Brigades, the offshoot of Al Qaeda that operates within Lebanon claimed responsibility for the bombing is and has been able to threaten to inflict more carnage on Iran until it withdraws forces from Syria, since Iran  could lose significant benefits if it refuses to engage Al Qaeda and enhance conflict within the region. As a result, opponents of the Assad regime believe President Obama and President Rouhani are eager to end the decades of tension with Iran, and supporting the Assad regime has given Iran a crucial position in receiving a nuclear deal. Thus, it is within the interest of these rebel groups to establish terror and drastically effect the stability of specific regions and governments in order to gain influence.

Consequently, the bombing of the Iranian embassy highlights that countries outside of Syria are becoming victims and suffering from the series of sectarian conflicts and bombings on different Sunni and Shi'ite Muslim targets that have become increasingly interlinked with the escalating conflict in Syria. This spill over effect is not a surprise, and as Iran's Minister of Foreign Affairs Mohammad Javad Zarif has expressed the bombing should be an "alarm for all" that intensifies the frequent security problem where conflict "cannot be contained in the region." Zarif went on to say "the tragedy today, two Iranians were victims of it and more and more Lebanese unfortunately than Iranians were victims of this tragedy, but that should be a reminder of all of us, that should be an alarm for all of us that we need to deal with the issue and unless we deal with this issue seriously it will engulf all of us." This does seem to be an increasing problem as several of Syria's most powerful rebel groups have just recently established a new Islamic force that desires toppling the Assad regime. This as increased the effectiveness of these rebel militant groups, and has reduced the efforts made by the United States, Iran, and other powers that have attempted to organize discussions that could end the war.

Therefore, the bombing of the Iranian Embassy brings forth a multitude of issues involving war and peace within the middle east. On one level, it effects US and Iranian relations involving deals and negotiations of nuclear energy. On another level, if the bombing highlights the inability for national security to prevent a spill over of conflict from Syria, which also infers an increasing lack of stability within the middle east. Even though this is an extremely simplistic view, it brings forth the issues of civil wars, terrorism, counter-terrorism, bargaining, and international cooperation, rebel groups within Syria have dramatically altered our discussions with countries such as Iran and they have brought forth greater concerns than solutions.

Works Cited

"Al Qaeda-linked Group Says It Bombed Iran Embassy in Beirut." RSS. Euronews, 19 Nov. 2013. Web. 23 Nov. 2013.

Barnard, Anne. "Beirut Bombs Strike at Iran as Assad’s Ally." New York Times. New York Times, 20 Nov. 2013. Web. 22 Nov. 2013.

KARAM, SHOUMALI, and HUBBARD BEN. "Powerful Rebel Groups in Syria Announce Creation of Umbrella Alliance." New York Times. New York Times, 22 Nov. 2013. Web. 22 Nov. 2013.