The Daily Express reports that Israel has blamed Iranian-backed Hezbollah for the suicide bomb attack on a bus in the Bulgarian city of Burgas. Several papers report on the identity of the suicide bomber at the Burgas airport and CCTV footage of him just minutes prior to the incident. The Independent suggests Israel yesterday fuelled fears of a further escalation in the already high tensions with Iran by promising to “exact a heavy price” from the perpetrators of the suicide bombing. In the latest updates on the conflict in Syria, the Daily Telegraph, the Guardian and the Times report that Syrian rebels took control of the border with Iraq and two key crossings into Turkey last night as government forces intensified their bombardment of Damascus in an attempt to avenge the deaths of three of the regime’s key lieutenants. An estimated 19,000 fled across the borders into Lebanon alone in the past two days, with thousands more fleeing to Iraq. In the Guardian, Ian Black notes that Israel is concerned about a possible diversionary Syrian attack on the Golan Heights. The Daily Express and the Daily Telegraph warn that Syria could disintegrate after the collapse of the Assad regime, posing a threat to the entire region. The Financial Times reports on Israeli and US concern over the fate of Syria’s chemical weapons. Also in the Financial Times, Emile Hokayem, Beirut-based analyst for London’s International Institute for Strategic Studies, is among those who question whether an Alawite militia could be sustainable. The paper’s Roula Khalaf comments on how America has now picked its new allies in the Middle East – the Muslim Brotherhood.  The Financial Times and Evening Standard reports on the death of Omar Suleiman, Egypt’s former intelligence chief and confidant of former-president Hosni Mubarak. He was involved in virtually every vital security issue confronting Egypt and, like Mr. Mubarak, ousted last year after 30 years by a pro-democracy uprising, was a fierce enemy of Islamists and a friend to the US and Israel. The Daily Telegraph reports that the BBC has been accused of “failing to adhere to the standards of professional journalism” after omitting to identify the capital of Israel on its Olympic games website.

The Israeli press extensively covers the arrival of the caskets of five Israelis killed in the suicide attack in Bulgaria. The newspapers are filled with their stories, along with descriptions from the survivors of what they went through. In Israel Hayom, Yoav Limor explains why Israel is adamant that Hezbollah, with Iranian backing, was responsible for the bombing in Bulgaria. Putting the attack in a regional context, he notes: “Despite the statements that the attack will not pass without a response, Israel has no intention of launching a war; if something sets the northern border ablaze it will be the transfer of weapons from Syria to Lebanon.” All papers also report on the CCTV footage of the suspected terrorist who carried out the suicide attack in Burgas. The Jerusalem Post reports on President Barack Obama’s condemnation of the Bulgaria attack while Maariv notes the UN Security Council’s condemnation. The Times of Israel reports that police in Jerusalem are preparing for an influx of Muslim visitors to the city during the month of Ramadan. The death of former Egyptian intelligence chief Omar Suleiman is also widely noted.