Good morning, everyone....
Catching up, it appears that Hezbollah’s de-facto coup in Lebanon is as complete as it can be without actually changing the name of “Lebanon” to “Hezbollahnon”....
I’ve accepted - not happily - that the US has completely abdicated its responsibilities for stability in the ME, but I’m at a loss to explain why Israel is remaining in an apparently blissfully ignorant state vis-a-vis this catastrophe on its border...
(The only article I found on the FR main board that mentioned Lebanon and Israel was a DEBKA piece that was so.. so.... DEBKA that it was unreadable....)
Things are not adding up, here, folks....
Good morning Uncle Ike.
Catching up a bit while get my brain functioning - coffee, I need coffee.
Hizbullah Celebrates Victory in Lebanon as Gov’t Bows to Demands
by Ezra HaLevi
(IsraelNN.com) The Hizbullah terrorist group celebrated victory over the Lebanese government as the weak US-backed coalition bowed to the Iran and Syria-backed groups demands.
Nonetheless, Hizbullah men continued to clash with US-backed Lebanese government-supporters even after the weak government authorized the Lebanese army to backtrack on the states attempted assertion of sovereignty following a near-coup.
Clashes in Lebanon began three days earlier when the army was instructed to close down the Iran and Syria-backed groups alternative communications network and depose the Hizbullah-affiliated head of security at Beiruts airport. The decision was made by pro-independence factions of the ruling government coalition seeking to stem the influence of Syria and Iran in Lebanon.
Hizbullah blocked off access to the airport with bulldozers and Hizbullah Chief Hassan Nasrallah got on Hizbullah-run TV and instructed his followers: We have said before that we will cut the hand that targets the weapons of the resistance. Today is the day to fulfill this promise.
At least 20 people were killed in the ensuing street battles as Hizbullah seized entire neighborhoods and towns, battling Sunni Muslims and Druze, which are both loyal to the government. Government officials homes and offices were also surrounded as government-affiliated TV stations were burned. The Lebanese army stood down in fear of an all-out civil war.
A withdrawal from Beirut was agreed upon after the Lebanese Army gave in to the groups demand to keep a Hizbullah loyalist in charge of the airport and continue to operate its own communications network. As for the telecommunications network, the army will look into the issue in a manner that is not harmful to the public interest or the security of the resistance [against Israel], an official statement from the army read.
Though Hizbullah officials promised Saturday that they would withdraw armed men from Beirut, they said they will continue a civil rebellion until the government gives in to the rest of their demands, which include the right to veto any decision made by the government. The announcement came after victory parades of armed men in pickup trucks firing their guns in the air made their way through Beirut.
Despite handing its positions over to the government in Beirut following its victory, Hizbullah terrorists continued to clash with Lebanese government loyalists in Tripoli Saturday night.
EXCERPT;
More at http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/126123
Lebanon troops patrol Beirut after Hezbollah pullout
By Laila Bassam
1 hour, 17 minutes ago
BEIRUT (Reuters) - Lebanese troops patrolled Beirut on Sunday after Hezbollah fighters pulled back from areas they had seized in gunbattles with supporters of the U.S.-backed government that have killed 39 people.
But fighting raged overnight in Tripoli, Lebanon’s second largest city, between pro- and anti-government gunmen. Security sources said at least two people were killed and five were wounded in the fighting.
Hundreds of soldiers backed by armored vehicles set up roadblocks and took up positions on the streets of the mainly Muslim part of the capital. There were no gunmen in sight but youths maintained barricades on some crucial roads, ensuring Beirut’s air and sea ports remained closed.
Hezbollah, a political group backed by Iran and Syria with a guerrilla army, said on Saturday it was ending its armed presence in Beirut after the army overturned government decisions against it.
While tensions have eased slightly in Beirut, there was little progress in efforts to resolve the core political disputes that have plunged Lebanon into its worst crisis since the 1975-90 civil war.
The Hezbollah-led opposition said it would maintain a “civil disobedience” campaign until all of its demands were met.
Hezbollah took over much of west Beirut on Friday after its fighters routed supporters of the anti-Syrian ruling coalition.
Four days of fighting erupted after the government said it was taking action against Hezbollah’s military communications network and sacked the head of security at Beirut airport, who is close to the group.
Hezbollah called the move against its communications a declaration of war, saying the network had played a crucial role in its 34-day war with Israel in 2006.
EXCERPT
More at http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080511/wl_nm/lebanon_dc