Posted on 07/14/2006 8:42:50 AM PDT by Oeconomicus
Southern Beirut heavily damaged by Israeli air raids
PM - Friday, 14 July , 2006 18:18:00
Reporter: Rania Abouzeid
MARK COLVIN: I'm joined now from the Lebanese side of the border by reporter Rania Abouzeid, Rania, first of all, where are you?
RANIA ABOUZEID: I'm in Beirut at the moment.
MARK COLVIN: And what kind of damage have you been able to see, I know that movement, of course, is fairly limited.
RANIA ABOUZEID: Well, actually I was in the Beirut's southern suburbs this morning just surveying the damage after a (inaudible) of (inaudible) air raids today.
The damages are quite extensive, most of the overpasses linking the area to the rest of Beirut have been destroyed or severely damaged and rendered impassable. You know, broken glass from adjacent buildings is littering the streets and there are huge craters along the main roads and many of the craters have been turned into murky pools because of the burst water pipes and what have you.
MARK COLVIN: There was a little bit of break-up on the mobile phone just a moment ago when you were saying... was I right in thinking that the area that's been cut off from the rest of Beirut is the southern area, which is more the Shi'ite stronghold?
RANIA ABOUZEID: Yes, it's the majority Shi'ite southern suburbs of Beirut which is the Hezbollah stronghold. It's actually sort of the seat of power in Beirut of the Hezbollah and Hezbollah commanders.
MARK COLVIN: So, what about the airport?
RANIA ABOUZEID: The airport was hit again later last night, it was the second time within about 14 hours that the airport was hit. Last night's strike targeted fuel tanks adjacent to the airport and that set them ablaze and sent plumes of very thick black smoke over the runways that were damaged earlier in the day.
So the airport is still closed and the Beirut to Damascus highway, which is the sole overland exit out of Lebanon, was also hit and it's been closed today.
MARK COLVIN: Has it been hit... I suppose one key question might be, has it been hit sufficiently to stop Syrian tanks and troops from coming in?
RANIA ABOUZEID: Well, it has been closed now, it was hit at least five times last night in various locations and the Lebanese internal security forces have prevented anybody from even attempting to cross that road, that overland pass.
MARK COLVIN: So it does effectively mean that the Syrians... well, it greatly limits their ability to intervene should they want to?
RANIA ABOUZEID: No, they remain... you know, there are other back roads into Lebanon certainly. So this was the main sort of, you know, commercial road if you like, but there are certainly other back roads into Lebanon. It doesn't limit their ability to cross overland at some other point.
MARK COLVIN: And in the past when the airport has been unusable in Beirut, ferry services have started up and people have gone via Cypress, but now you've got this sea blockade as well.
RANIA ABOUZEID: Yes, exactly. So, I mean, the Israeli vessels have been blockading the entire Lebanese coast from the south all the way up to the north and to the northern port city of Tripoli.
So, they have effectively blockaded Lebanon and we are cut off from everything, via land, air and sea. There is only one land route out of here to Damascus, and it's a back road, but that remains the only way out.
MARK COLVIN: Now, we saw after the murder of Rafiq Hariri that there is a considerable groundswell of dislike for the Syrians. To what extend do you think that this Israeli action will be able to play on that, use that as some sort of leverage, or will there be a backlash instead?
RANIA ABOUZEID: Not so much against the Syrians, but certainly there are rumblings against Hezbollah and there's anger that Hezbollah may have driven Lebanon into another conflict with Israel.
However, you know, given the events of last night... of the past couple of days, actually, and what's considered a disproportionate response to Hezbollah's actions down south, it seems they are uniting against their common enemy.
MARK COLVIN: Thank you, Rania. Rania Abouzeid in Beirut there.
Huh?
Gee. Ya think!?! "Lebanese Air 234, you are cleared to runway 36 via taxiway Mike. Please avoid the multiple craters and exploding bombs along your taxi route, and the last 8000 feet of runway 36 are closed due to large holes and unexploded ordinance. The first 75 feet are useable for now, provided your wingspan is less than 15 feet. Contact the tower on 121.5"
Probably a typo. It's "Cyprus", an island nation very close to Lebanon.
"However, you know, given the events of last night... of the past couple of days, actually, and what's considered a disproportionate response to Hezbollah's actions down south, it seems they are uniting against their common enemy."
Hezbollah and Syria are the common enemies of BOTH Lebanon and Israel. The people of Lebanon should rise up and rid themselves of their inefective government that allows terrorists to use their country for purposes not in their best interest. The Lebanese are not stupid, they are a proud and gracious people but after so many years of war perhaps apathy has set in.
You forgot....." good day"
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