Lebanese al Qaeda-linked organization leader dies in prison

Majid-al-Majid, head of the al Qaeda-linked Abdullah Azzam Brigades, was reported by the Lebanese army Saturday to have died in prison five days after his arrest. His group was held responsible for bomb attacks on the Iranian embassy in Beirut and Hizballah strongholds, as well as rocket attacks on northern Israel. He was arrested in Beirut on Dec. 30, on his return from signing in Syria a cooperation pact providing the Nusra Front with logistical facilities at Abdullah Azzam strongholds in S. Lebanon near the Israeli border. Sources in Beirut suspect Hizballah’s involvement in ak-Majid’s death after the Lebanese army refused to hand him over, or else that he chose to kill himself for fear the army would not withstand the pressure. Read earlier DEBKAfile report.