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US blames al-Qaida of Iraq for Syrian bombings

Director of National Intelligence James Clapper said bombings against security and intelligence targets in Damascus and Aleppo bear 'all the earmarks of an al-Qaida-like attack,' leading the US intelligence community to believe the Iraqi militant branch is extending its reach into Syria.

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Jacquelyn Martin/AP
Director of National Intelligence James Clapper, listens to a question while testifying on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, Jan. 31, before the Senate Intelligence Committee hearing to assess current and future national security threats.
  • By Kimberly Dozier Associated Press

| WASHINGTON

Top U.S. intelligence officials told Congress Thursday that al-Qaida of Iraq was behind a series of bombings against the Syrian regime in recent months.

Director of National Intelligence James Clapper said bombings against security and intelligence targets in Damascus and Aleppo bear "all the earmarks of an al-Qaida-like attack", leading the U.S. intelligence community to believe the Iraqi militant branch is extending its reach into Syria. Al-Qaida of Iraq is one of al-Qaida's largest regional affiliates.

He added that Syrian opposition groups may have been infiltrated by al-Qaida, likely without their knowledge. Clapper said the lack of a unified opposition group could leave a power vacuum that extremists could fill if the Syrian government falls, a potential development he called "troubling," because Syria has an extensive network of chemical weapons sites.

Defense Intelligence Agency chief Lt. Gen. Ronald Burgess added that it appears "the al-Qaida like attacks" were likely caused by elements already inside the country, and that the U.S. intelligence community had not yet detected "a clarion call to outsiders" to join the cause.

He made no mention of the video released by core al-Qaida leader Ayman al-Zawahri over the weekend, calling on Muslims to support Syrian rebels.

The officials also told Congress that if Iran is attacked over its alleged nuclear weapons program, it could respond by closing the Strait of Hormuz to ships and launch missiles at regional U.S. forces and allies.

Burgess tells senators Iran is unlikely to initiate or intentionally provoke a conflict.

Clapper says it's "technically feasible" that Tehran could produce a nuclear weapon in one or two years, if its leaders decide to build one, "but practically not likely."

He says recent diplomatic outreach by Iran to European diplomats could indicate that officials there are reconsidering the program.

Both men say they do not believe Israel has decided to strike Iran. Clapper said he would be meeting with Israeli officials soon to discuss the matter.

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