The bombings appeared to be aimed at destabilizing the Syrian government under Hafez al-Assad with links being between the suspected perpetrators and Iraq.

On 13 March 1986, a truck bomb detonated under a bridge in a Damascus suburb, killing 60 people and injuring 100 more.

[3][1][4] A month later, 144 were killed by a series of bombings in five towns and cities across Syria, including Damascus, with buses being a prime target.

[5][1] Immediately after the March bombing, the Syrian government placed the blame on Iraq, citing their desire to destabilize the regime.

[6] The BBC reported in 2008 that "pro-Iraqi militants" were "believed" to be responsible for both the March and April bombings.