Hezbollah: Israel behind assassinations in Lebanon

Hezbollah leader Sheikh Hassan Nasrallah accused Israel yesterday of being behind the series of political assassinations in Lebanon that has targeted lawmakers and other public figures.

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"Israel has the most to gain by these assassinations," Nasrallah said. "It wants to tear Lebanon from Syria - and prove Lebanon can't take care of its own security so that security agencies will be in charge of security here, like in Iraq."

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"It's a lie propagated by the media" he said about Iran's alleged influence over his group. "We influence Iranian policy in the region more than they do us."

Turning to the U.S., Nasrallah claimed Washington was interested in establishing a foothold in Lebanon in order to impose peace with Israel, eliminate Hezbollah, and "destroy the Palestinian refugees' right of return by settling them in Lebanon."

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/941152.html

Hezbollah has recently removed the head of its anti-aircraft units from his position, according to Western intelligence agencies, apparently as part of the conclusions drawn by the Lebanese militant organization from the Second Lebanon War in 2006.

Almost a year ago, Haaretz reported that Hezbollah had removed one of its senior military commanders from his post. The commander was head of the regional defense of the Beqaa Valley, considered Hezbollah's heartland and home to most of Lebanon's Shi'ite population. Placed under the authority of Hezbollah's "home front logistical command," the region was particularly vulnerable as it is where many of the organization's warehouses and bases were located.

During the war, elite Israel Defense Forces troops infiltrated the area repeatedly, most notably in two raids carried out on the city of Baalbek.

Apart from downing one helicopter, IAF aircraft were largely unharmed by Hezbollah during the war, prompting the organization to probe its air-defense systems.

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/941141.html

The first, of course, is simply entertainment, but that sort of Stalinesque impudence is not so comon as it once was, and is always a pleasure to come across nowadays accordingly. Even the people saying it do not really expect anyone to believe it.

The second suggests, as many items coming out since the fighting ceased have done, that the view frequently expressed in its immdiate wake, that Hezbollah had pretty much come out on top of the fighting, is far from accurate.

And as you know, it is quite common that nobody wins in war. I did think the bit about the replacement of the AA commander was the more interesting of the two. Although if may not be fair to him, expectations may have been too high to start with, it does indicate the state of affairs in that department.

Nasrallah just wants to remind us of his existence. A couple of his comments are amusing. I am sure the Iranians will be interested to know that he is manipulating them.

Happy New Year Sir!