Lebanon - Hezbollah seizes large parts of 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 ~

[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*

[NYer]

This is not good! Only 4 days ago, Mar Nasrallah Pierre Sfeir, Patriarch of the Maronite Catholic Church, departed Lebanon and is scheduled to meet with President Bush to discuss the deteriorating situation in his country. The last time they met, a 30 day war broke out between Hezbollah and Israel.

---

An image grab taken from the Hezbollah-run Manar TV shows Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah delivering a televised speech from an undisclosed location. Hezbollah fighters, their guns blazing, have seized control of west Beirut after three days of street battles with pro-government foes pushed Lebanon dangerously close to all-out civil war. (AFP/MANAR TV)

A family flees a neighorhood in west Beirut. Western nations began drawing up plans to evacuate their nationals from Lebanon, with governments advising against travel to a country on the brink of all-out civil war. (AFP)

[redgolum]

Nuts,
This is going to be a long summer.

[BlueStateBlues]

There is no civil war, judging from the press accounts. The army has already changed sides, the violence is decreasing, and the “civil war” has been lost (for the time being?) by the good guys.

Now it’s Bush’s and Israel’s move. And I scratch my head wondering what that will be.

[HAL9000]

The English language website of an-Nahar is down, but here is a machine translation of the recent Arabic-language chronology:

9:10: storming of the Office of the Hariri Foundation in Ramla, white and set fire again in the future in building television Rosha

8:55: The delegation of the forces moved from March 14 to Marab Saraya government to consult with Siniora

8:45: Arabic: 3 killed in the collapse of high

8:15: tension in the region Beshara Khoury and launch rocket propelled grenades at a round-homosexual

8:00: United States renewed its confidence in the government of Siniora and the Lebanese army

7:57: United States expresses its deep concern at the unrest in Lebanon and Syria, calling on Iran to cease its support for Hezbollah and seeking to destabilize this country

7:55: LBC: Wounded by the Socialist Party in forms with Hezbollah in the head in the high mountain

7:50: intensive gunfire in Sidon

More 7:25: Geagea: the international community can not stand idly against this coup and a strong treaty on March 14 the people of Lebanon to continue to battle and renews it stands behind the legitimate government led by President Fuad Siniora, claiming stable

7:22 Geagea: a strong head on March 14 to all the Arab countries since the coup which implements its return to Syria, Lebanon and Iran to deliver average

7:20: Geagea calls on the Lebanese army command to carry out their duties in protecting the citizens and put an end to the chaos and violence

7:18: Geagea: March 14 Stressing that what happened by Hezbollah in Beirut was an armed coup aimed at the cavity of the Lebanese state and subjecting them to this coup on weapons of Hezbollah resistance recipe

7:15: Geagea: A Salute to Saad Hariri steadfast in the heart of its capital and between people and greetings to Walid Jumblatt, who refused to leave the Democratic Gathering and the Progressive Socialist Party

7:12: Geagea: ravaged Beirut, Hezbollah under the slogan of resistance Dharma down their arms towards the residents of Beirut martyred and died abandonment of abandonment

7:10: Chief executive body in the Lebanese Forces, Dr. Samir Geagea from Marab: It is an armed coup on the State and the National Partnership Charter and co-existence

7:07: Fatfat: Ongoing contacts on the Arab and international level towards Iran because of its blatant in these events

7:04: Fatfat: What happened on the ground is storming the houses of citizens isolate and subvert the media and replacing images of martyr Rafik Hariri, President Bashar al-Assad and photographs if they consider that a victory by the return to Beirut, the Syrian Lebanese people do not accept that

7:00: Minister Ahmed Fatfat of the Foundation, the Lebanese Broadcasting: a mutually acceptable settlement, but what is an unacceptable surrender of the parties Milisheawiyeh

6:41: renewed clashes in the vicinity of wing

6:40: The return of shooting in the area Barbour

6:20: Information Minister Ghazi Aridi: the need to preserve the freedom of information under all circumstances

6:13: intensive gunfire in Tripoli

6:08: Jumblatt: No war because it requires political adversaries and today this is missing

6:07: King Abdullah and the Saudi monarch stressed the necessity of giving priority to the language of reason and logic to resolve the situation in Lebanon and that dialogue is the only solution to emerge from the crisis

6:05: Prime Minister warned the French Francois Greek notify the outbreak of civil war in Lebanon, stressing that France deeply concerned for the acts of violence which could lead to war

6:02: Jumblatt: No one can silence the other, except for the assassination but did not give the result and proof of what happened after the assassination of the martyr President Rafik Hariri got where Cedar Revolution

6:00: Forms in Khalde between supporters Talal Arslan and the Future Movement led to two killed and several wounded

5:59: Jumblatt: we must define the security of resistance for the first time and last

5:58: Jumblatt: We demand to enter the country on the basis of positive neutrality Taif agreement not to be in Syrian-Iranian axis, or any other axis

5:55: Jumblatt: I am today to dialogue for assimilation because Lebanon and respect the mutual agreement to respect the formula, not rocket

5:52: Jumblatt: I invite the judiciary to go and bring with Nasrallah on the network as long as it is requested

5:51: Jumblatt: is reprehensible to turn the fighter, who fought in Aita al-Shaab to the absolute-fire in the air of Beirut

5:50: killing one man and injuring four in the mainland Elias

5:49: Jumblatt: two supporters Talal Arslan assassinated on the road now and I confirm that elements of the Socialist Party does not have any income, but there are elements of the assassination Milisheawiyeh

5:48: Jumblatt: the complete pacification of the mountain and I thank Talal Arslan on the liaison and I found in my house would not leave.

5:47: Jumblatt: the subject of the government's resignation IS UNLIKELY

5:45: Jumblatt: We were informed of the network which began expanding to include all Lebanese territory and this is rejected along that Hezbollah controls on all Lebanese lands

5:44: Jumblatt: There is a legitimate government and there is one trying to slowly expand and these countries in trouble today because the logic of gradual assimilation of the party within the state institutions did not succeed

5:43: Jumblatt: President Siniora is recognized as the legitimate president of all the Lebanese people and all Arab and international community

5:42: Jumblatt: only the state owns exclusive weapons and possesses the decision of war and peace, Hezbollah rejects this matter

5:41: Jumblatt: I reject the logic of war and open Nasrallah theory applied under the slogans of the party totalitarian multi

5:40: Jumblatt: the logic of the state only leads to a solution

5:38: Jumblatt: negotiating with Speaker Nabih Berri, and I advise to keep this negotiate with him because there are circumstances which forced the closure of the House of Representatives

5:37: Jumblatt: What crazy thinking of disarming Hezbollah by force

5:36: Jumblatt: shells that Saad Hariri, saying it had armed militia

5:35: Jumblatt: our instructions to receive the Progressive Socialist Army centers in sensitive places to ensure that the army protect citizens

5:33: Reuters, quoting a source exhibits: Opposition will remain until the siege of Beirut resolve political crisis

5:32: Jumblatt in an interview with the New TV: a big difference between the government resolution wants to ensure its authority Slowly the sovereignty and territory between the Party and the kidnapping of two soldiers entering the country in a major war

5:30 Gemayel: We have information coming of a group of Al Qaeda to Beirut to some of the camps and security agencies reveal if he manner adopted by the Hezbollah in this way will the Lebanese arena to all possibilities

5:20 beautiful: military control of Beirut will not only benefit the opposition politically in any dialogue next thing I Bandh weapon Hezbollah

5:15 Amin Gemayel calls from Paris to resist the new situation in Beirut politically

4:45: Britain warns its nationals against travel to Lebanon

4:30 Emirates Embassy deport their nationals through Syria

4:15 clashes and shooting and fired RPG in the monastery was Bishamoun

4:00 Dory Chamoun of Marab: Lebanese army breached his duties and had to remove the first screen of dust.

3:40 meeting in Marab confirmed that no question of weakening the state and must therefore continue to support the Siniora government will be announced not to bow to the steps taken by Hezbollah in Beirut because they terrorize citizens

3:38 Kouchner: France will not remain idle towards the tragedy of Lebanon

3:35 civil defense is trying to extinguish a fire in an old building for the future in television after he Rushah elements of the Syrian Social National Party set on fire

3:30 burning building Television "Future" in Arusha.

3:17: MP Misbah Al-Ahdab: to lay hands on Lebanon and the hostage taking is unacceptable and must be a choice between political action or military action

3:15: processions of cars and motorcycles to the opposition gunmen roamed the streets of Beirut, which launched intensive fire rifles into the air control of the capital

2:40: shooting in the Clemenceau

1:25: remove all barriers and dirt berms in the western Bekaa and the return to normalcy

1:15: shooting in the Beirut Municipal Stadium in Beirut

1:10: gunmen enter the Mufti of Tyre and the Office of Jebel Amel, Mr. Secretary in Photos

1:05: Saudi Arabia and Egypt called for an emergency meeting of Arab foreign ministers and confront what it called Egypt of seeking to dominate the Iranian Lebanon

1:00: Meeting of the flower Bekaa was reached after the opening of Saadnayel - Talbaya - Jalal road and Dahr al-Baydar - Capricorn

12:40 LBC: the spread of heavy armed National Clemenceau

Or MTV at 12:30: intensive gunfire at Breliass and wounding a soldier from the Lebanese army result of a grenade thrown

12:00 cut the road between Abda, Halba and reopening the road away Abda

11:50: reopening by Dahr al-Baydar in both directions and through Shattoura - Zahle

11:40: Middle East Airways suspended all flights to and from Beirut until noon tomorrow, Saturday

11:15: MP Walid Jumblatt, left his home in the Clemenceau supervision of the Lebanese army

[JasonC]

Hags screeching endlessly at them for seven straight years made their stones drop off.

[JasonC]

Sit on their backsides and wait for Iran to finish its nukes.

Did they do anything about Gaza? The last Lebanon war? Iran attacking our men in Iraq? Iran getting nukes? They aren't going to do anything.

[jeffers]

Bush said he wouldn’t allow anyone to interfere with the Lebanese elections.

Either a silly bear walked right into a deliberate honeypot, or else Bush’s word ain’t worth much.

Keep those gas tanks full, an unpalatable spike in prices might be close at hand.

Any official US comments so far?

[jhpigott]

me thinks the former

Sinora cut Hezzie comms links and pulled Hez airport secuirty chief off the detail. Cut comms and one of primary methods of resupply. They had to know something like this would result

so far i’ve heard Rice say US support for Sinora back gov is “unwavering” AND White House press release said we are “pondering” our response to the “forces” behind the Beirut takeover(didn’t specifically name Hez - hinting at Syria and Iran as well??)

After all the work that was put in to boot the Syrian army out in 05’ and to get Sinora’s gov in place, I don’t think we just sit back and take this lying down

[Allegra]

I'm thinking this is a REAL good time to be on vacation from the Middle East.

[1COUNTER-MORTER-68]

“Keep those gas tanks full, an unpalatable spike in prices might be close at hand.”
~~~
True Dat!...:0/