Join hands to fight terror

The list of those who could be behind the terrorist attack in Syria on Saturday is not very long. Already, fingers in Damascus and elsewhere point at Israel and Islamist groups, perhaps those linked with Al Qaida. And both suspects again prove they can strike at will not only in Syria, but anywhere in the region.

It is true that there has been a significant decrease in terrorist activities in the region over the past year or so, but this doesn't mean that the threat of terrorism is over.

Israel is seen as a prime suspect as it is considered the biggest loser from Syria's political comeback on the international arena. Islamists, meanwhile, are angry that Damascus has been tightening its borders to stop extremists from crossing into Iraq to join the anti-government insurgency.

The attack in Syria and last week's attack in Algeria indicate that terrorism is very much alive.

Syria takes pride in its stability and high level of security. Saturday's attack will certainly open the eyes in Damascus and other Arab capitals to the horrifying fact that even the safest states in the region can fall victim to a terrorist attack. Hence, regional cooperation is urgently needed to stem the threat.