A former minister in the Lebanese government, Michel Samaha, has been accused assisting Syrian intelligence groups of carrying out attacks in Christian areas of the country. The purpose of the attacks, according to Lebanese officials, was to instigate tension between Sunni Muslims and Maronite Christians in an effort to destabilize Lebanon, providing a focus for Syria to intervene and shore up its defenses against rebels in Syria.
According to reports, Samaha confessed to working with Syria. He is known to be a strong supporter of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.