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Syria-Lebanon
Hizbollah warns: We'll open new front on Israel
2003-10-12
Syrian-backed terrorists have vowed to escalate attacks on Israel from Lebanon, describing last Sunday's raid near Damascus as the "first round in a new Middle East war".
Thought they'd hit back using proxies.
Senior leaders of the Lebanese-based Hizbollah group warned that the raid, on an alleged Palestinian training camp, would inflame a border that had been relatively quiet for 30 years. "It is wrong to bear an attack without a response. This changes the region," said Mohammad Raad, the deputy leader of Hizbollah. "It demands that the resistance groups increase pressure on Israel. In the south of Lebanon, this means Hizbollah has the responsibility for aggression towards Israel. We are moving towards regional war."
"... like lemmings."
Western diplomats in Beirut believe that Damascus will use the terrorist group as a "forward defensive shield" against Israel. According to one diplomat, Syria is preparing to equip Hizbollah with Russian-made SA-18 surface-to-air missiles, which have a range of more than 16,000 feet, to target Israeli warplanes. Hizbollah, which is also funded by Iran, is believed to have a stockpile of 10,000 short and long-range rockets capable of landing in Israeli territory, but the few missiles it currently has are antiquated and pose little threat to the Israeli airforce.
Posted by:Fred Pruitt

#2  Senior leaders of the Lebanese-based Hizbollah group warned that the raid, on an alleged Palestinian training camp, would inflame a border that had been relatively quiet for 30 years.

Hizbollah musta missed the Israeli invasion thing in 1982.

I guess then support for Hizbollah, the folks (I may be mistaken on this) responsible for the murder of some 280 Marines in 1982 goes through Syria, and with the distribution of SAMs, the ball is in Israel's court.

This changes the region," said Mohammad Raad, the deputy leader of Hizbollah. "It demands that the resistance groups increase pressure on Israel. In the south of Lebanon, this means Hizbollah has the responsibility for aggression towards Israel. We are moving towards regional war."

I would have to agree, except that Hizbollah has been conducting a regional war since 1982. The way I understand it, even though there have been air strikes on the position a coupla months ago, there remains a grouping of artillery/MRLs in southern Lebanon maintained by Hizbollah, and to me is the strongest indication of their intentions to strike at Israel. It is worth noting at this point this artillery park has been there for at least two years I am aware of.

I guess we didnt see any mention of those guns in any news reports, not particularly this one, did we?
Posted by: badanov   2003-10-12 11:14:01 AM  

#1  Syria revs up the hezb crazies and plants a big sign on their back: "hit me". Assad and his military were shown for the pussies they are when the IAF can waltz in to 18km from the capital, take out a terror camp, and fly home free. Go ahead Nasrallah, Lebanon's south and east will be smoking holes
Posted by: Frank G   2003-10-12 11:05:30 AM  

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