Uzi Mahnaimi Zarit, Lebanese border
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HEZBOLLAH, the powerful Iranian-backed militia that fought the Israeli army last summer, has built a network of underground military bunkers under the feet of United Nations peacekeeping forces in southern Lebanon close to Israel’s border.
It has rebuilt its fighting capability and Israeli intelligence now estimates that it has stockpiled 20,000 rockets.
“Hezbollah will never leave southern Lebanon,” said Shaul Mofaz, the former defence minister, last week. “It’s now armed with rockets that could hit central and even southern Israel.”
Hezbollah, which was forced to move away from the border as part of last August’s ceasefire deal, has returned by stealth. “Since the Israeli forces left, Hezbollah has been building formidable military underground posts under the noses of the UN,” said an Israeli intelligence officer.
Before last summer’s war in Lebanon Hezbollah had more than 20 positions along the border. All were destroyed by the Israelis, who also killed several hundred fighters.
Soon after the ceasefire agreement Hezbollah began to rebuild its positions in Shi’ite villages close to the Israeli border.
“The entrance to an underground post is usually in the backgarden of a Hezbollah supporter,” said one source. “The householder receives compensation for the use of his garden.”
Modern equipment is used to sink the shafts, sometimes as deep as 70ft. Some bunkers are as wide as a football field, others can hold fewer than 10 fighters.
They are equipped with sophisticated communications equipment and many are believed to be connected by tunnels, limiting Israel’s ability to destroy them from the air.
Since last August huge quantities of arms, including Russian-made antitank missiles, short- and long-range rockets, small arms, mines and ammunition have been smuggled into Lebanon from Syria and Iran.
Israeli military intelligence sources say there is particular concern over long-range Fatah-110 rockets that have been supplied to Hezbollah.
This rocket, with a 125-mile range and a 500lb warhead, is an improved version of a Chinese assault rocket, said Uzi Rubin, an Israeli missile expert. These rockets could reach Tel Aviv if hostilities resume.
Reports this weekend suggested that Israel may be willing to return the Golan Heights to Syria in a peace deal that would require Damascus to cut ties with Hezbollah and other militant groups. But Brigadier General Yosef Baidatz, a senior military intelligence officer, told the Israeli parliament’s foreign and defence committee last week that Syria was preparing for war.
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lebanon has the right to free its territory and anyone calling them terrorists are just brainwashed deadbeats who have no basis other than wat israel tels them
a, asfahan,
Israel is going down no matter what they try... Hezbollah will always defend Lebanon from these barbarians... We Lebanese are freedom fighters and as we have defeated Israel in the Summer we promise that we are going to defeated for ever and ever.
Wael Ataya, Beirut, Lebanon
Isreal has the right and duty to defend itself from terror. It is sad and true for both sides that the inoccents will die because people will not use their minds and intellect. They will instead revert to their terror tactics. I do not feel any remorse for the agents of terror when they are killed, just for the inoccents that get caught in the cross fire.
Michael Knepper, Modesto, USA
38 reporters were arrested in Iran last Year and British journalists call for the boycotting of Israel !
But, to be fair, the decision of the University and College Union to move towards a boycott of Israeli academic institutions was rightly condemned by the majority of the UK press. To quote from the Sunday Times - 'The UCU's decision is shameful and goes against the foundations of intellectual pursuit'
John, Romford,
I hope now that the world will wake up and see how everyday people are trying to destroy the state of Israel and that what ever Israel does to these terrorists is only in self defence. I just wish the world would educate the arab youth that their is hope for peace if they do not use terror.
michelle Sharon, London,
I read this and think 1967?
Easy to write such a document "it may be true too", but, any excuse will do regardless of fact to start a fight.
Lebanon will no doubt be bombed and the general people will suffer the death and destruction yet again at the hands of Israel. Sadly playing into the hands of the ones who Israel are trying to remove from Lebanon.
If I am so lucky and see 2047, I will still see war and terror in the middle east. Israel needs land and water ro grow, the only current option is to take by force or by ensuring the countries next to them can not develope and dependant on Israel.
John, Ingolstadt, Germany
Isreali intelligence officers - oh dear, we must believe whatever these people tell us.
Shaffiq Mahmood, Halifax, West Yorkshire
Has anyone sent this item to the 'United' Nations in writing with words of one syallable that even they can understand and had it translated into French? When the next war there starts (and it will)- what will be their excuse then? When Israel goes in much heavier next time (and don't think plans have not already been made) I wonder what will come from the 'security' council ? What a world !
victor, Malaga, Spain
Lieblich,
Israel has a lot more than 20.000 rockets. Its Israel that Amnesty International described as "Leading a War Criminals Championship, not Hezbollah.
akram, London,
What's going on in England?You read this and you BOYCOT Israel?
Lieblich Georges, Antwerp, Belgium
This should be investigated immediately. If it proves true, UNIFIL should leave immediately and watch Israel do the job correctly.
Maynard, Oxford, UK
Let's see - how long will it take for world-opinion to blame Israel for Hezbollah/Lebanese build-up with support from Iran/Syria?
Jonathan, Johannesburg, South Africa
Certain newspapers not unknown to you have recently taken heavy flak for passing on Israeli military communiqués as if they were independently verified facts. Take warning.
Rowan Berkeley, London, England
Look, this simply must stop. Why is it that, every time that a ceasefire of some sort is put into place, the same benighted theocrats simply employ the respite to stockpile more weapons? Theocrats have *no* legitimate use for weapons *what ever.* This summer, the EU and US should completely annihilate every single piece of Iranian military capacity, with assurance that any effort to retaliate will be met with destruction of much more than military infrastructure. Israel should do the same vis a vis Huzzy and Hamas. Then, enduring peace at long last. Peace simply is not possible when theocrats and fascists bear arms.
Maynard, Oxford, UK