Steve Schippert details the latest developments in the region and comments:

While the al-Qaeda claim is unconfirmed, it is indeed possible that Zarqawi has operatives in Lebanon that executed the attacks. From a strategic perspective, whether they did or not pales in comparison to the clear statement of intent of al-Qaeda going forward to directly engage Israel. This intent should not be lost or discounted.

Of course, that is not news to Debka readers.

Four questions interest me:

1. Is Zarqawi's claim of responsibility a sign that he wants to distract attention from his strategic defeat in Iraq?

2. Does Hizbulah's unusual denial of responsibility mean that it fears that turning South Lebanon into a battlefield would cost it votes during the next elections? Is Lebanon really fed up with demagogic speeches?

3. Is the unleashing of the missiles an act of desperation by the Syrian regime? Does the attack on Bashar Assad delivered by the ex-vice president, Khalim Haddam, over al Arabia TV Friday mean that the regime is beginning to crack?

4. Can another round of Arab-Israeli war be avoided?