"Israel" threatens to target Lebanese army and infrastructure
Source: Compiled by English.hizbollah.tv, 8-11-2008
"Israel" has threatened to target Lebanon's army and all its infrastructures should Hizbullah take charge of the interior ministry or the defense portfolio.
Distressed by the growing role of the resistance movement in Lebanon's politics, Tel Aviv will target the country's entire military infrastructure in any future conflict with the Islamic group, The Jerusalem Post cited cabinet sources as saying on Friday.
According to assessments in "Israel", Hizbullah's influence over Lebanese politics is expected to grow, and it is set to gain at least two more Cabinet posts in elections next spring - likely the Interior Ministry and, as a remote possibility, the defense portfolio.
Hizbullah already has a veto on Cabinet decisions. Hizbullah is four times stronger militarily today than it was at the end of the last summer war of 2006, the "Israeli" daily said.
"In August 2006 Hizbullah had 14,000 rockets, with [the "Israeli" settlement of ] Hadera being the southernmost city within their range," the daily reported.
"Two years after the war, Hizbullah has some 40,000 rockets and Dimona [with its nuclear reactor], Yeroham and Arad, all in the Negev, are at risk," the Post said.
According to the daily, Hizbullah has a long-term plan to fortify positions and create strategic depth north of the Litani River, inside Shiite villages south of the Litani, and in the Bekaa Valley, a traditional stronghold.
"Should the next Lebanese defense minister be a member of Hizbullah or from a Hizbullah-affiliated party, "Israel" could argue that there is no difference between the Lebanese Army and Hizbullah, and act accordingly," the sources said.
Lebanon's rival political factions briefly held talks this week on a national defense strategy that includes the fate of Hizbullah's weapons. The discussions are to resume on December 22. In their last meeting on September 16, the factions agreed to work toward a national defense strategy that could eventually integrate Hizbullah's weapons into the Lebanese Army.
"Israel" has threatened to target Lebanon's army and all its infrastructures should Hizbullah take charge of the interior ministry or the defense portfolio.
Distressed by the growing role of the resistance movement in Lebanon's politics, Tel Aviv will target the country's entire military infrastructure in any future conflict with the Islamic group, The Jerusalem Post cited cabinet sources as saying on Friday.
According to assessments in "Israel", Hizbullah's influence over Lebanese politics is expected to grow, and it is set to gain at least two more Cabinet posts in elections next spring - likely the Interior Ministry and, as a remote possibility, the defense portfolio.
Hizbullah already has a veto on Cabinet decisions. Hizbullah is four times stronger militarily today than it was at the end of the last summer war of 2006, the "Israeli" daily said.
"In August 2006 Hizbullah had 14,000 rockets, with [the "Israeli" settlement of ] Hadera being the southernmost city within their range," the daily reported.
"Two years after the war, Hizbullah has some 40,000 rockets and Dimona [with its nuclear reactor], Yeroham and Arad, all in the Negev, are at risk," the Post said.
According to the daily, Hizbullah has a long-term plan to fortify positions and create strategic depth north of the Litani River, inside Shiite villages south of the Litani, and in the Bekaa Valley, a traditional stronghold.
"Should the next Lebanese defense minister be a member of Hizbullah or from a Hizbullah-affiliated party, "Israel" could argue that there is no difference between the Lebanese Army and Hizbullah, and act accordingly," the sources said.
Lebanon's rival political factions briefly held talks this week on a national defense strategy that includes the fate of Hizbullah's weapons. The discussions are to resume on December 22. In their last meeting on September 16, the factions agreed to work toward a national defense strategy that could eventually integrate Hizbullah's weapons into the Lebanese Army.
