Hezbollah routs pro-govt gunmen; controls Beirut

Reuters (excerpt) ^ | May 9, 2008 | Tom Perry

[HAL9000]

Excerpt -

BEIRUT, May 9 (Reuters) - Hezbollah gunmen took control of large areas of Beirut on Friday in a third day of fighting between the pro-Iranian group and fighters loyal to the U.S.-backed governing coalition.

Security sources said at least 10 people had been killed and 20 wounded. The thud of exploding grenades and crackle of automatic gunfire echoed overnight in the worst internal strife since the 1975-90 civil war.

Gunmen loyal to Hezbollah forced the pro-government Future News television off the air on Friday, said a senior official at the Beirut station. Future News is owned by Saad al-Hariri, a leader of the governing coalition.

The security sources said Hezbollah and fighters from the allied Amal movement -- both Shi'ite groups -- had overrun offices of Hariri's Future group across the predominantly Muslim western half of Beirut.

Gunmen had also taken over the offices of Hariri's Al-Mustaqbal newspaper, witnesses said. Smoke billowed from the building's windows.

~ snip ~

[HAL9000]

naharnet.com -

Unrest Across Lebanon Enters Third Day

9:30 Hizbullah fighters control Hamra and Verdun districts, gun wars taking place at Sadat street which leads to Quraytim, Residence of Mustaqbal Movement leader MP Saad Hariri

9:20 am Security measures were reinforced around Walid Jumblat's Clemenceau mansion, Dar el-Fatwa and Mufti Mohammed Qabbani's residence in Talet el-Khayat.

9:15 am Ash Sharq radio, mouthpiece of al Mustaqbal movement, went off the air.

8:55 am Reports that Hizbullah gunmen are handing over to Lebanese army troops pro-government gunmen after their Beirut centers had been taken over by Hizbullah.

8:45 am Heavy deployment of Hizbullah gunmen in Beirut, particularly in Hamra, Karakol Druze, Raouche, Mulla, Talet el-Khayat, Zaidaniyeh, Ras el-Nabaa, Basta Zoqaq Blat and Nweiri, according to media reports.

8:40 am The crackle of gunfire and sporadic bursts of rocket-propelled grenade echo in Beirut.

8:35 am Reports that Al Mustaqbal newspaper building has been burnt down.

8:31 am Mulla said army troops building is now under army protection and troops should soon begin evacuating employees.

8:30 am Nadim Mulla, Future TV General Manager, said gunmen warned them through the army that they would attack building if they don't stop broadcasting.

8:00 am Future television stopped broadcasting after gunmen stormed into the building in Beirut.

more

[HAL9000]

via translation -

10:00: launch rockets on the area around the house, where Hariri Qoraytem

[BlackVeil]

Very vital developments - thanks for posting.

I put up an article on this topic 48 hrs ago, and it was evidently getting very serious even then. Today has been explosive.

[SolidWood]

Looks like a second Lebanese Civil War is coming. This time Israel and Lebanon have to eradicate Hezbullah mercilessly. We should provide the heavy ordnance.

[Uncle Ike]

Thanks for the updates, HAL9000...

Please keep ‘em coming — you seem to be the only person alive (with broadband) that shows any interest.....

Ike

[bd476]

Ping.

[HAL9000]

10:28 am An RPG hits Qoreitem palace, local media reported.

10:25 am Work stopped at Beirut port.

10:20 am Saudi Arabia called for an urgent meeting of Arab foreign ministers to try to halt the violence in Lebanon.

10:15 am MP Ammar Houri's residence is under army control after it was taken over by Hizbullah.

10:10 am Machine gun fire and RPGs heard around Hariri's mansion in Qoreitem.

[Cindy]

Thank you bd476 for the ping.
Thank you hal9000 for the updates.

[chemicalman]

I'd like to know how much "aiding and embedding" Mr Carter did to embolden Hezbolla to start taking over Lebanon?

Funny how all this started after Mr Peanut's visit.

[Cindy]

stepping back to May 6, 2008

Note: Photo included.

http://www.dailystar.com.lb/article.asp?edition_id=1&categ_id=1&article_id=91760

“Late-night clashes break out in and around Beirut, Bekaa Valley
Fighting brought under control by Lebanese army”
By Anthony Elghossain
Daily Star staff
Tuesday, May 06, 2008

BEIRUT:
ARTICLE SNIPPET: “Progressive Socialist Party leader Walid Jumblatt is exchanging blows with Hizbullah over his recent accusation that the opposition party has been discretely monitoring Rafik Hariri International Airport and building illicit communication networks throughout Lebanon.

In a statement sent Friday to The Daily Star, Hizbullah described Jumblatt’s accusations as “fictitious police stories and nightmares,” linking the Druze chieftain’s comments to an American-led effort to “silence the resistance” in Lebanon and the region.”

[Cindy]

ADDING 2 links to post no. 11:

YNET NEWS.com (REUTERS): "FIGHTING ROCKS BEIRUT AS 5 DIE, HIZBULLAH DEFIANT" (Published May 8, 2008, 21:40)

Link

[Cindy]

A bit Off Topic, but interesting.

#

http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1209627043886&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull

May 9, 2008 7:10 | Updated May 9, 2008 7:15
“Assad rejects Israel’s demand that Syria disconnect from Iran”

ARTICLE SNIPPET: “Syrian President Bashar Assad told the Italian magazine L’Espresso that Israel’s demand that Syria cut its ties with Iran and with Hizbullah was “irrelevant” to reviving peace talks, dormant since they fell through under the leadership of several recent prime ministers.”

#

http://www.memri.org/bin/articles.cgi?Page=countries&Area=syria&ID=SP192108

Special Dispatch Series - No. 1921
May 7, 2008 No. 1921

“Syrian President Assad: Syria’s Contacts with Israel Are Aimed at Establishing Common Ground for Negotiations”

#

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/2009929/posts?page=311#311

[HAL9000]

11:40 am MEA announced it was suspending all outgoing and incoming flights to Beirut until midday Saturday.

11:15 am MP Walid Jumblat has been evacuated from his Beirut home by army troops.

11:10 am Army troops reopened the port road which was briefly blocked at the Phoenicia Hotel area with burning tires.

11:00 am Tripoli residents blocked Maloula-Tebaneh highway with burning tires in protest of the bloody fighting in Beirut.

10:37 MPs and leaders of the March 14 alliance were summoned for an urgent meeting at Lebanese Forces chief Samir Geagea’s home in Maarab.

10:32 am An Egyptian diplomatic source said it is not allowed for a force backed by Iran to control Lebanon.

[happinesswithoutpeace]

bkmark. Thanks.

[Cindy]

To read the complete text; please click the link below.

http://www.travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/tw/tw_3072.html

Travel Warning
United States Department of State
Bureau of Consular Affairs
Washington, DC 20520

This information is current as of today, Fri May 09 2008 02:04:34 GMT-0700 (PDT).

LEBANON

April 21, 2008

[philly-d-kidder]

I spend my Time in Hamra I was going soon.. so sad such nice People..

[Cindy]

from your post no. 14 - snippet - quote:

"10:32 am An Egyptian diplomatic source said it is not allowed for a force backed by Iran to control Lebanon."

[Uncle Ike]

” “10:32 am An Egyptian diplomatic source said it is not allowed for a force backed by Iran to control Lebanon.” “

Fine, Egypt — but, Who Bells The Cat????

[Jess Kitting]

Here we go again.

[epluribus_2]

11:41 French Peacekeepers do nothing.
11:42 French Peacekeepers ear escargot.
11:59 French FM denounces Israel.

[Cindy]

HMMM...that’s a tough one.

Thanks Uncle Ike for understanding.

[Uncle Ike]

Thanks, Cindy, for ‘getting’ the reference —

Not too many people, these days, remember the Brothers Grimm stories from our childhood.... ;~)

[Cindy]

Hey, I love those fair tales with real happy endings...you know...and they lived happily every after.

[Cindy]

A Reference Article:

http://www.frontpagemag.com/Articles/Read.aspx?GUID=BD194EC5-A8C5-42DE-B4A4-964FCCAB8EA1

“Brewing Confrontation in Lebanon”
By P. David Hornik
FrontPageMagazine.com | Friday, May 09, 2008

[Uncle Ike]

[Crossposted from “News From The Long War” thread]

To: WorkerbeeCitizen
Lebanese source: Hizbullah taking control of last resistance stronghold
Published: 05.09.08, 12:49 / Israel News

Gunmen loyal to the Lebanese government have laid down their arms and surrendered to Hizbullah militants at the last Sunni neighborhood in Beirut that has yet to fall into the Shiite group’s hands.

Security officials said Lebanese army soldiers are expected to enter the neighborhood. (Reuters)

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3541254,00.html

2,013 posted on Friday, May 09, 2008 5:01:35 AM by WorkerbeeCitizen (Slavery through better taxation)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2011 | View Replies | Report Abuse]

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/1979689/posts?page=2013#2013

[Cindy]

Note: The following news brief is a quote:

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3541255,00.html

Lebanese minister: Iran behind attack on Beirut
Published: 05.09.08, 12:54 / Israel News

Lebanese coalition member Ahmad Fatfat said Hizbullah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah had “taken advantage of the government’s decision to outlaw the (Shiite) group’s communications system to declare war.”

“It was actually Iran that raided Beirut,” Fatfat told Al-Arabiya, “this is an Iranian attack.” (Roee Nahmias)

#

Note: The following news brief is a quote:

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3541249,00.html

Lebanese minister: Attack on Beirut Iranian-backed
Published: 05.09.08, 12:29 / Israel News

Ahmad Patpat, a member of the Lebanese government, said that Hizbullah leader Hassan Nasrallah “utilized the government’s decision to outlaw his communications in order to declare war.

“Iran has broken into Beirut,” he concluded in an interview to Al Arabiya network. “What is happening here is an Iranian attack.” (Roee Nahmias)

[Uncle Ike]

[another crosspost..]

To: Uncle Ike; Bahbah; All
Report: Hizbullah surrounding Beirut government offices
Published: 05.09.08, 11:46 / Israel News

Hizbullah gunmen are currently surrounding a government office building and the home of anti-Syrian, pro-government leader Saad al-Hariri in Beirut, Saudi-owned

Al Arabiya television said on Friday. (Roee Nahmias)

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3541239,00.html

2,017 posted on Friday, May 09, 2008 5:15:31 AM by WorkerbeeCitizen (Slavery through better taxation)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2016 | View Replies | Report Abuse]

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/1979689/posts?page=2017#2017

[livius]

I saw video coverage in the Spanish press where the Hizbullah partisans in some neighborhood are waving a photo of Mookie. Al Sadr seems to have gotten his fat fingers into this, as well.

[jhpigott]

could all be loosely connected. word is Iraq/US forces are going to hit Sadr City hard and soon. Iran is really mucking up the works right now

[bd476]

You're welcome, Cindy.

Hal9000, echoing what Cindy said, thanks for all the updates.

[HAL9000]

1:15 pm The crackle of gunfire echoed over the municipality stadium in Beirut.

1:10 pm Gunmen stormed into the house of Mufti Jabal Amel Sayyed Ali al-Amin in Tyre.

12:40 pm Gunmen from the Syrian Social Nationalist Party were seen deployed in Clemenceau .

12:00 pm Protestors closed the road between al-Abdeh and Halba. The Mina road, however, was reopened.

11:50 am Dahr el-Baidar highway was opened in both directions.

[SJackson]

If you'd like to be on this middle east/political ping list, please FR mail me.

High Volume. Articles on Israel can also be found by clicking on the Topic or Keyword Israel. or WOT [War on Terror]

----------------------------

[livius]

I believe al Sadr is supposedly still in Iran...I wonder if this is concerted in some way? Syria was also making threatening noises this morning. It wouldn’t be surprising and it would certainly explain some things.

[veracious]

I wonder if any freedom loving country would want to help the Lebanese government. Nah, let's allow Hezzie or rather it's masters, Iran and Syria run amuck all over the world. Any real man would have done something about the proxy game a long time ago; where are they?

[jhpigott]

what gets me is that this cannot have been totally unexpected by the Lebanese govt

- they cut off and declared illegal Hezbollahs communications network

- they pulled Hezbollah’s guy running airport security off the job. And by many accounts the airport was where Hezbollah was receiving most of its resupply

Lebanon was effectively cutting off Hezbollah’s comms network and resupply . . . they had to know Hezbollah wouldn’t just sit and take it?

and now it looks like the Lebanese gov and army are just rolling over . . . it just doesn’t add up. Stuff is going on we are not seeing

[elfman2]

Thank you France!

Force an Israeli ceasefire with a promise of peacekeepers and then send a fraction of those you promised with next to no authority to engage in anything supporting keeping of peace.

[NonValueAdded]

10:32 am An Egyptian diplomatic source said it is not allowed for a force backed by Iran to control Lebanon.

Well, then ... problem solved!

[tobyhill]

It has to get worse before it gets better. The Hezbos have been reduced to street thugs with limited fighting skills. Not to say Israel trounced the Hezbos but they probably did a better number at degrading the Hezbos than they originally were given credit for.

[tobyhill]

****12:40 pm Gunmen from the Syrian Social Nationalist Party were seen deployed in Clemenceau.****

[SJackson]

It has to get worse before it gets better. The Hezbos have been reduced to street thugs with limited fighting skills.

Most sources indicate that, like Hamas, with Iranian and Syrian training they're becoming a viable light force. One not to be underestimated. Of course if the Lebanese Army refuses to engage, even when the civil government is under seige, Hizbollah has won.

[Carry_Okie]

Hizbollah has won.

My bet is the genocide will slowly begin under the cover of a media blackout. Hopefully this will clue in the wishful peaceniks in Israel as to what awaits them, but I have my doubts.

[livius]

Stuff is definitely going on that we aren’t seeing - and probably has been for some time. This is getting very little coverage in the US press, I notice. I’ve read more about it in the Spanish press, but of course Spain is closer geographically to the ME and its time zone, so I suppose that’s not surprising.

[r9etb]

Fine, Egypt — but, Who Bells The Cat????

We do, of course ... if "The Cat" happens to be Iran.

I would consider Egypt's statement to be more of a "diplomatic signal" than anything else.

Egypt is basically telling the world that they don't consider Hezbollah to be "legitimate," and that they won't do anything about attempts to deal with them.

That frees up Israel, for one thing.

And I think it also isolates Syria to some extent: Hezbollah gets a great deal of material support from Syria. If Hezbollah is "backed by Iran," what does that say about Syria?

[norcal joe]

I’m afraid GW’s focus right now is on his daughter’s wedding in Texas...

[jhpigott]

yea, its wild. The U.S. put in alot of work to get things the way they are (Syrian troop withdrawl in 05’ and backing of Sinora govt) and Hezbollah is taking over right in front of our eyes and not hardly a peep out of the American MSM and really not many tough words from the White House either.

[Mariner]

This is EASY to solve, really.

Drop 100,000 tons of ordinance on Iran...then ask them to stop what they're doing in Iraq and Lebanon.

If we don't get the response we desire, drop another 100,000 tons. Repeat as necessary.

[Mariner]

The Arabs (Egypt, Jordan, SA) have a STRONG incentive to fix this problem.

Iran is on the verge of controlling the entire Muslim world.

[purpleraine]

No will in the US.

No balls.

How many times had Iran slapped us in the face in the last 30 years?

How many US deaths have they ordered or supported?

Our response? Jimmy Carter!

[The Toll]

It is 2008 and might still makes right in this world. Like it or not, the lion will get his share.
Thank God we have great warriors like John McCain to lead us in this time of need.
*attaching hose to exhaust pipe sarcasm*