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Syria-Lebanon-Iran
9 killed , dozens injured during Hezbollah-led protests in Lebanon
2008-01-28
Nine were killed and dozens injured when Hezbollah-led opposition supporters protested against the power blackouts and the living conditions throughout Lebanon today . The protests followed a massive bomb blast on Friday which killed a senior Lebanese intelligence officer and three others in the east of the capital.

According to political observers Hezbollah has decided to direct its arms against the Lebanese army and the internal security forces . "This is the reason for the escalation of violence against the armed forces and the Internal security forces " , Ahmad Yasseen, a political observer told Ya Libnan

The latest deaths come at a time of acute political instability in Lebanon as deadlock between pro-Syrian and pro-Western parties drags on. Initially the protest started near the Mar Mikhael church in the Chiah district a Hezbollah stronghold east of Beirut The protesters burned rubber tires and tried to block the roads The fifth regiment of the army intervened by trying to reopen the roads but the protesters opened fire at the army . There was also sniper fire from nearby areas.
  • Ahmad Hassan Hamze 35, a Shiite Amal official was the first killed in the protests today. Initial reports said he was killed by sniper fire
  • The name of the second victim who was killed in the protests is Yousef Shukair. Shukair was transferred to Bahman, an Iranian hospital located in the Ghubairi area, a suburb of Beirut and a stronghold of Hezbollah and Amal .
  • The identity of the rest of the victims has not been revealed yet, but according to unconfirmed reports all but one of the victims were Hezbollah supporters
Prime Minister Siniora contacted the electricity company chief to inquire about the reasons behind the power cuts. The electricity company has reported that there was no power blackout either before or after the protests . The electricity company sources also reported that neither Hezbollah nor Amal supporters ever pay for electricity charges . Those citizens that pay have never protested over the blackouts. As a result of the refusal of Hezbollah and Amal members to pay for electricity charges the heavily indebted Lebanese Government has to subsidize the electricity company .

LebanonÂ’s Minister of Youths and Sports Ahmad Fatfat condemned the violent protests and said ; "Is it fair for the protesters who are protesting against power cuts and living conditions to shoot at the army ?"

Hassan Fadlallah, a Hezbollah MP ignited further the protests when he said today : “What we see today is the result of the suffering and the pain of the people “

The Iranian and Syrian backed Hezbollah- led opposition has been blamed for the deteriorating living conditions in Lebanon resulting from their protests to bring down the government of Prime Minister Siniora. More than two hundred businesses in down town Beirut , where the protest have been going on for nearly 18 months , have closed down , declared bankruptcy and laid off thousands of employees .
Posted by:Fred

#19  Don't forget the recent noises out of A'stan about Iranian support of the anti-government factions there. Gaza, Lebanon, Sadr's bluster, the Straits speedboat taunts, and A'stan. Iran is rattling its cage in all directions right now - even if all they mean to do is 'rattle', at some point something will go beyond that and all Hell will break loose.
Posted by: Glenmore   2008-01-28 21:48  

#18  DF, I apologize if I gave the impression that I thought you were pollyannish. Wasn't what I meant --I just like that Elvis song and thought is was sort-of applicable ... I certainly hope and regularly pray for Israel's protection.
Posted by: lotp   2008-01-28 17:16  

#17  Hey! The army's shooting back! They aren't supposed to do that!
Posted by: Hassan Fadlallah   2008-01-28 16:57  

#16  im just telling it like I see it. If theres any part thats pollyanish, tell me.
Posted by: Dopey Flotle8127   2008-01-28 16:33  

#15  DF8127, here's Elvis with a song for you:

When Moses walked the children out of Egypt land
Said now don't you worry, we're in the Lord's hands
He's gonna walk beside us, the time is comin' near
He's gonna wash away all our misery and our fear

I got a feelin' in my body
This will be our lucky day
We'll be releasing all our sorrow
Leave it layin' along the way

When Daniel faced the lion there wasn't any doubt
You got to be like Daniel and the Lord will help us out

I got a feelin' in my body
This will be our lucky day
We'll be releasing all our sorrow
Leave it layin' along the way ...
Posted by: lotp   2008-01-28 15:35  

#14  I know it hasn't really made much difference in the past but the muslim holy months, when they are not supposed to fight the infidels, ends on the next crescent moon.

That gives the observant ones the go ahead to attack from Feb 8th until approx. 5th July when the next holy month starts.
Posted by: Gladys   2008-01-28 15:27  

#13  first - Hamas isnt holding anything in Sinai, it looks like. Theyve probably used the cover of the civies buying food and stuff to get some more rocket materials in, and especially to get cash in, without which they will dissolve. Some AQ types may have made it into Sinai - I wouldnt go having a vacation at a Sinai resort anytime soon - but not enough for human wave attacks of any kind.

As for Leb riots being parallel, its really not. In Gaza Israel is using the cutoffs to counters a sustained rocket campaign - its a quasi war. In Beirut, it appears to just be the usual 3rd world problems keeping the lights on, which Hezb is using as an excuse to keep the shit stirred.

As for Iraq, I havent seen Muqty do anything since this announcement. I think hes trying to counter the steady attrition the coalition has been inflicting.

Look - from Gaza to Leb to Iraq to the Gulf, there are few places that Iran can do really major damage (well maybe Iraq, and the off chance they have long distance rockets in Gaza they havent used, or that they have agents in place in the west ready to do something on a 9/11 scale)

And the minute they do that, they shift the discourse on Iran in the US, and even to some extent in Europe. They shoot first, everybody to the right of Chomsky in the US will support shooting back - the debate would be over whats "proportionate". Pin prick response vs regime change. Or something in between.

And we'd probably have Sarko supporting us, for what thats worth ;)
Posted by: Dopey Flotle8127   2008-01-28 13:36  

#12  I'm expecting a multi-front attack on Israel from Hamas, within Lebanon and on Israel by Hezb'allah and probably to coincide with something really provocative from Iran - nuclear test explosion, runs at ships in the Straits or terror attacks in Europe and US.

Ima agree that a pre-planed in-a-can multi-front attack on Israel is very likely lotp, but have you an idea as to when?
Posted by: RD   2008-01-28 13:13  

#11  The Tet like offensive will take place after the new president takes office. That is the time of least preparedness, and they should realize that Bush will not hesitate to react. But then, we are talking muzzies here, and logic has never been their strong suit.
Posted by: wxjames   2008-01-28 11:21  

#10  That's the big question, isn't it?

And the second big question is how far the mullahs will let Ahmadinejad go.
Posted by: lotp   2008-01-28 10:46  

#9  Will this "Tet" like attack take place before or after the new President is elected? Bush is considered a "lame duck" perhaps the militants feel he will not be able to retaliate, or they want to test the new person.
Posted by: bman   2008-01-28 10:33  

#8  Plus Sadr's getting fiesty again, thereby threatening to pin down up US attention and troops within Iraq. Add in the recent boat feint and the pattern isn't a good one.
Posted by: lotp   2008-01-28 10:23  

#7  is this a "gut feeling", or an informed guess based on what you see on the radar?

Mostly an informed guess based on their previous actions plus this sort of public justification in the Iranian press. It's their habit to have flunkies call for and publicly justify attacks ahead of time.

Of course, sometimes that's just a bluff. But they've been arming and paying both Hezb'allah and reportedly Hamas for some time now. The breakout of Hamas into Egypt is serious and gives them a safe haven from which to launch human wave attacks on Israel. And note that the reason for the Lebanon protests parallels that of the Gaza breakout.
Posted by: lotp   2008-01-28 10:21  

#6  I don't think the DDG-67 (USS Cole) will be the last US ship hit. My assessment is the Iranians will try to sink one of ours soon, possibly with an imported Chicom 801 or silkworm.

The C.801 anti-ship cruise missile is a Chinese version of the popular French made EXOCET anti-ship cruise missile. Despite its somewhat larger size, the C.801 has about the same specifications and performance of the Exocet. Recent reports indicate the SARDINE has been upgraded with GPS navigation systems supplied by ROCKWELL.
Posted by: Besoeker   2008-01-28 10:06  

#5  I'm always impressed by the ability of several regulars here to see trends and links events and/or see behind them - something that most often escapes me even for stuff I link here.
Lotp, is this a "gut feeling", or an informed guess based on what you see on the radar?
Posted by: anonymous5089   2008-01-28 09:44  

#4  I'm expecting a multi-front attack on Israel from Hamas, within Lebanon and on Israel by Hezb'allah and probably to coincide with something really provocative from Iran - nuclear test explosion, runs at ships in the Straits or terror attacks in Europe and US.
Posted by: lotp   2008-01-28 09:30  

#3  Not clear if this is Hezbollah deciding to seriously hit the mattresses, as the above implies, or if its just Hezb taking advantage of a moment of opportuniy with the power cuts.
Posted by: Dopey Flotle8127   2008-01-28 09:27  

#2  The true Paris of the Mideast.
Posted by: Sam Adamski   2008-01-28 09:16  

#1  Heh, heh
Posted by: g(r)omgoru   2008-01-28 05:49  

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