Israeli minister: Third war on Lebanon in sight

Source: PressTV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=116866&sectionid=351020202


An Israeli cabinet minister warns of the third Israeli war on Lebanon amid reports that Tel Aviv has mobilized its troops.

"We are heading toward a new confrontation in the north," said minister without portfolio, Yossi Peled in remarks carried by military radio and the Israeli news website Ynet, the AFP reported.

The London-based A-Sharq al-Awsat newspaper reported Friday that the troops had been called to the northern the borders Lebanon to carry out "military maneuvers."

"I don't know when it will happen, just as we did not know when the second Lebanon war would erupt," Peled added, referring to Israel's ground and aerial bombardment of southern Lebanon in 2006, which left some 1,200, mostly civilian, Lebanese dead.

The 33-Day War and another bloody incursion in 2000 were fought off by Lebanon's Hezbollah resistance movement, which is an active member of the country's coalition government.

The movement has, meanwhile, reportedly tightened security measures along Lebanon's southern border in reaction to successive reports of Israeli military escalation.

Peled added that Israel would hold Hezbollah and Syria responsible for any attack on Israel.

Hezbollah leader, Seyyed Hassan Nasrallah and authorities in Damascus have repeatedly warned Tel Aviv against warlike incitements, promising due response.
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2010 Jan 23

Israel's troop surge ups tensions at Lebanon border



Source: PressTV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=116812&sectionid=351020203

A new report said that Hezbollah has tightened security measures along the border with Israel as Tel Aviv beefs up its forces along the northern frontier.

Citing Lebanese sources, the London-based A-Sharq al-Awsat newspaper reported Friday that Israeli troops were called up to the northern borders to carry out "military maneuvers."

According to the report, the resistance movement put its forces on high alert to retaliate in the event of "surprise attack" by Israel.

The daily quoted a Hezbollah source as saying that "Israel has accustomed us to aggression and we are used to being vigilant and on the lookout all the time. That is what we are doing."

The source, however, did not confirm the security alert on border. The paper said Syria had also called up reservist soldiers, including Syrian natives residing in Lebanon.

A senior Israeli army officer, however, denied reports about an upcoming military drill along the border. He also denied any plan to attack Lebanon.

Hezbollah Deputy Secretary-General Sheikh Naim Qassem warned Thursday of an Israeli attack, which could place at any time.

"The resistance is preparing and working persistently in order to face such a possibility, whether it was delayed or sudden at any given moment," Lebanon's Naharnet quoted him as saying.

In 2006, Israel fought the 33-day war to destroy Hezbollah's military power but eventually left southern Lebanon without achieving any of its objectives.
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2010 Jan 23

Hezbollah: Kouchner's remark contradicts UNIFIL's



Source: PressTV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=116824&sectionid=351020203

Hezbollah has condemned French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner's latest statements over the daily Israeli aggressions against Lebanon.

"Kouchner's statements contradict with the reports of UNIFIL, which has France among its ranks, about the daily Israeli aggressions against Lebanon and violations of its sovereignty," Hezbollah said in a press release issued on Friday.

According to Lebanon's Hezbollah resistance movement, the French official's statements "carried clear echoes for the Israeli voice and a full denial for France's history and its legacy in resisting aggression and occupation."

"This stance is an attempt to acquit Israel and to cover up its relentless violations of Lebanese sovereignty, the thing which represents a shield for its occupation and an encouragement for it to pursue its aggressions."

Hezbollah further urged the French government to "play a role matching with the responsibility, which it has always claimed to practice, concerning keenness on the security of Lebanon and its sovereignty."

On Friday, Kouchner reportedly told Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri and the Lebanese delegation that Hezbollah and not Israel is the main danger for Lebanon and that the concerns in Lebanon over an Israeli attack are unjustified.

“Israel is our friend, and if there was a threat to Lebanon, it will only come from a military adventure carried out by Hezbollah in the best interest of Iran,” Kouchner said.

Iran's Foreign Ministry Spokesman Ramin Mehman-Parast condemned the French accusation, noting that the influence of Israel is obvious.

"It is clear to all that the Zionist regime [Israel] is the root cause of threats and occupation. It attacks innocent people… every day and deprives them of their basic rights," the Spokesman pointed out.
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2010 Jan 21

Hariri warns of another Israeli attack on Lebanon



Source: PressTV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=116746&sectionid=351020203

Lebanon's Prime Minister Saad Hariri has expressed concerns over a possible Israeli attack on the country, citing an escalated violation of Lebanese airspace by Israeli aircraft.

Hariri, who arrived in France on Thursday on his first official visit to a Western country since forming his government in 2009, made the remarks in an interview with the French newspaper Le Monde.

He said that Israeli aircraft violated the Lebanese airspace 25 times in one single day last week.

"I also mentioned the necessity to end the daily Israeli violations of this resolution (United Nations Security Council Resolution 1701), the escalation of the Israeli threats against Lebanon and its government," Hariri said.

The Lebanese premier said it seems that Israel thinks hitting the southern part of Lebanon does not mean that it has attacked the whole country.

Hariri said when Israel attacked southern Lebanon in 2006 "it damaged the country's infrastructure. I wondered if that should not be considered an attack on the whole country."

Israel launched an attack on Lebanon in 2006, but was met with stern resistance from Hezbollah. The 33-day war resulted in a heavy defeat for Tel Aviv, after the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1701 called on Israel to withdraw all of its forces from Lebanon.

"Naturally, this topic is part of a wider problem, the one of Israel's refusal to go forward in the [Middle East] peace process, especially with the Palestinians," Hariri was quoted by Reuters as saying.