International Christian Embassy Jerusalem, Nov. 12

Bombings at three fast food restaurants in Lebanon, clashes between police and gangs in Jordan and the shooting of an American diplomat in Amman recently have focused the rise of terror activity in Israel’s neighboring countries in recent days as nations take sides in the impending US strike on Iraq.

On Tuesday, bomb blasts ripped through three restaurants in Beirut and north Lebanon, the latest in a string of bombings of fast food outlets associated with the United States. There were no reports of injuries in any of the blasts.

Security sources said the blasts occurred at a Pizza Hut outlet and a nearby Winners fast food restaurant, which suffered heavy damage in a Beirut suburb. At the same time another bomb ripped through a Pizza Hut in the northern city of Tripoli.

Anti-US sentiment has risen in Lebanon over the course of the Palestinian uprising and because the US is seen as Israel’s strongest ally. Anger has also intensified over Washington's threat of a war on Iraq.

In Jordan, troops have clashed with thousands of Islamic supporters during a wide scale search operation for insurgents and weapons. At least five people, including a police commander, were killed in a firefight between Jordanian Special Forces and Islamic gunmen in the southern city of Ma'an. Another 20 people were injured.

The troops encountered hundreds of gunmen who tried to prevent the arrest of an insurgent believed link to the assassination of a US diplomat on Oct. 28. Ma'an has served as a haven for Iraqi-supported insurgents. Many in the city trade in goods smuggled to and from Iraq. The weekend raid was the second large-scale operation by the military in Ma'an so far this year.

Gunfire resounded Monday night as police searched homes for militants, a government official said on customary condition of anonymity.

Most Jordanians oppose any US strike on neighboring Iraq.