| Long piece from the LA Times which tells us pretty much what we already knew. But it's a useful primer if you haven't been keeping up. Short story: Iran and Syria are re-arming the Hezbies. Go figure. |
But assessments diverge on the source of Hezbollah's arms.
| Iran, Iran, Iran, Iran, Syria, Iran, North Korea, Iran, Russia, Iran ... |
In the 2006 war, Hezbollah fired thousands of rockets into northern Israel. Most were inaccurate, short-range models, but the attacks killed at least 39 civilians and had a profound psychological effect on Israelis. About 1,000 people were killed in Lebanon during the 34-day war.
Tensions have risen again. In February, a car bomb in Damascus, the Syrian capital, killed Imad Mughniyah, a Hezbollah chief wanted by U.S., European and Argentine authorities in connection with terrorist attacks that killed hundreds of people in the 1980s and '90s. Hezbollah blamed Israel and promised retaliation. Israel has not confirmed or denied that it was involved in Mughniyah's death. But it has beefed up defenses and conducted a rare nationwide defense drill in April. Tough talk from both sides continues.
| The militia acknowledges that it has rearmed since the 2006 war with Israel, but denies Western allegations that it is getting weapons smuggled from Iran and Syria. |
The U.S. government, which has designated Hezbollah a terrorist group, accuses Iran of providing arms, training and millions of dollars. Syria also has emerged as an arms supplier, not just a conduit for Iranian arms, Israeli officials say.