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| Syria-Lebanon-Iran |
| Hezbollah shoots at Lebanese Army helicopter, kills officer |
| 2008-08-29 |
| A Lebanese airman was killed Thursday when the military helicopter he was flying over Sojod hills in south Lebanon came under gunfire attack from Hezbollah gunmen. Hezbollah didn't comment on the incident initially, but later attempted to justify taking the life of a true Lebanese patriot: a Hezbollah source said the helicopter was shot down "because it crossed red lines that Hezbollah had warned the Defense Ministry and army command" not to cross. The helicopter was conducting a training mission over the southern village of Sojod when it came under fire and was forced to make an emergency landing. The Telal Sojod area lies some 20 kilometers (12 miles) north of the Israeli border. Details about the incident were sketchy and the military sealed off the area, but an army statement said the helicopter was on a training mission when it came under fire from armed elements and was forced down in the highlands of the Iqlim al Tuffah province. The statement said 1st Lt. Samer Hanna, a navigator, was killed and that the aircraft was damaged. No one else in the crew was hurt and the army was investigating, it added. A subsequent report stated that several crew members were also wounded. Cleric blames Israel Deputy President of the Higher Islamic Shia Council Sheikh Abdul Amir Qabalan condemned the attack on a military helicopter on Thursday. Qabalan said he feared the attack, which killed a Lebanese army officer, was committed by "infiltrators" working on behalf of Israel. He said that the army needed to investigate the incident and bring those responsible to justice, as soon as possible. Hezbollah sources stated that the militia fighters said they shot at the military helicopter after monitoring video cameras, and were aiming to warn the pilot, but claim they did not mean to kill anyone. The sources also said that the Resistance considered the region very sensitive, and Hezbollah leaders have already stressed the importance of the location because it contained the Resistance's telecommunications apparatus. This is not the first time Hezbollah has killed fellow Lebanese over their sacred telecommunication infrastructure. |
| Posted by:Fred |