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 group’s 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 state’s 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 group’s alternative communications network and depose the Hizbullah-affiliated head of security at Beirut’s 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 group’s 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
Hiya, Workerbee...
I was hoping that when you came in, you’d bring with ya some ‘news’ reports to the effect that things ain’t as bad over there as I’ve been thinking they are...
Silly me.....
So that's that then, eh!