| Submit your comments on this article | |
| Syria-Lebanon-Iran | |
| Fighting in Mount Lebanon | |
| 2008-05-12 | |
| Fighting has broken out between pro-and anti-government supporters in Lebanon's central mountains overlooking Beirut, security officials say. Echoes of explosions can be heard as far as Beirut. The clashes between US-backed pro-government gunmen of Druze leader Walid Jumblatt and opposition supporters started in the village of Aytat around 2 p.m. (1100 gmt) Sunday. They involve exchanges of rocket and machine gun fire.There were no immediate reports of casualties. Jumblatt militiamen were seen carrying their guns and heading to the area, DPA quoted witnesses as saying. Jumblatt and his rival Druze leaders in Mount Lebanon, Waam Wahab and Talal Arslan, have called on the army to intervene in order to end the clashes. Arslan has also announced that the current fighting in Mount Lebanon is not related to Hezbollah forces.
Meanwhile, a Press TV correspondent in the area said it apears that Jumbalatt has lost control over its forces. He added that the Lebanese army is trying to control the region. Forces Loyal to Jumbalatt have reportedly attacked army forces who try to restore peace and calm in the area. Tensions eased in Beirut on Saturday after the army revoked two government controversial measures which had sparked four days of unrest in the capital. The new clashes between the two sides, however, erupted after Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea, a close ally of Jumblatt, predicted that tensions will continue in the country. "The situation in Lebanon will deteriorate and this condition will continue until Hezbollah is defeated and the war that the group is spearheading ends," Geagea said in an interview with al Arabia on Saturday. | |
| Posted by:Fred |
| #7 And I'm afraid that any of Jumblatt's legitimacy and chances of being supported by the Sunnis would go right out the door if the Israelis would do anything so impolitic as directly or openly support the Druze against Hezbollah. It would make him the instant successor to the South Lebanese Army, and leave him with no choice other than to beat leather for the nearest small boat out of the country. |
| Posted by: Mitch H. 2008-05-12 16:38 |
| #6 SB, this isn't western media, that's an English-language Iranian news agency based out of Tehran. It's not surprising they'd be blatantly pro-Hezbollah. |
| Posted by: Mitch H. 2008-05-12 16:34 |
| #5 One thing that Israel could do is use its armed UAVs to do a little "pick-and-choose" hunting on the Hez mortar teams. That would be a huge equalizer for the Druze and would put a real level of fear into the Hez about how many of their mortar teams would survive. Also, because of the years of surveillance in the area, I am sure that the Israelis could manage a few VSTOL prop aircraft deliveries of needed small arms and ammo to the Druze. |
| Posted by: Shieldwolf 2008-05-12 15:52 |
| #4 "that the next missile detected leaving Lebanon or Gaza would be answered by a regional nuclear attack from Israel." I agree Olmert is weakened. But I cant recall any Israeli govt, under Begin or Shamir or Bibi or Sharon that would have done that. |
| Posted by: liberalhawk 2008-05-12 15:38 |
| #3 The problem is there is no strong central government, so there's really no "adults in charge". Iran and Syria want a weak Lebanese government and a strong Hezbollah so they can threaten Israel. Israel has a weak government, or they could put an end to the entire mess by telling Syria, Iran, Lebanon, and Hamass that the next missile detected leaving Lebanon or Gaza would be answered by a regional nuclear attack from Israel. That would send heart attacks throughout the State Department and the EU, but it might be the only thing that allows Israel to have at least a semblance of peace. Israel has at least 40 KNOWN Jericho missiles with a range of 350km and can carry a 50kt nuke warhead. There have been rumors for years they have an extended-range missile called the Massada with a range of 1750km that can carry a 250kt nuke warhead. Everyone's pretty sure Israel has nuke warheads. Nobody, including the US, has any idea how many. The world may very soon get first-hand evidence of Israeli nuclear warfighting capability, especially if Iran keeps pushing. |
| Posted by: Old Patriot 2008-05-12 14:26 |
| #2 problem is the Leb army doesnt seem to be obedient to the Leb govt. |
| Posted by: liberalhawk 2008-05-12 10:14 |
| #1 Forces Loyal to Jumbalatt have reportedly attacked army forces who try to restore peace and calm in the area. The reporting on this crisis by our western media is just horrific. |
| Posted by: Sninert Black9312 2008-05-12 03:37 |