Israel on alert despite downplaying fears of war with Hezbollah, as sectarian clashes rage across Lebanon for sixth day

News Type: Event — Seeded on Mon May 12, 2008 6:52 AM EDT

Article Source: haaretz.com

world-news, israel, lebanon, hezbollah, alert, hizballah

Israeli security officials are playing down concerns of an imminent direct conflict with the Lebanon-based militant group Hezbollah, Army Radio reported on Monday.

Hezbollah guerillas seized west Beirut over the weekend and sectarian clashes have raged between the group and pro-government fighters for six days across Lebanon.

Heavy fighting broke out in the northern city of Tripoli on Monday, Lebanese security officials said. Officials said machine gun fire and rockets were being used in battles between government supporters and pro-Syrian gunmen. Earlier fighting in Tripoli stopped Sunday morning. But it broke out again Monday after Lebanese troops pulled out from the area.
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Lebanese paramedics also said Monday that at least 36 people were killed in clashes in a mountainous region Beirut, bringing the death toll to 81 since the fighting began on May 7.

While Israel does not expect to be drawn into the ongoing conflict, the defense establishment has raised its intelligence alert in case the organization decides to exploit its hold on Lebanon for a battle south of the Litani River.

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{"commentId":1790452,"authorDomain":"paperdragon"}

Dennis P. McCann

The title from my RSS reader was this: Israel on alert despite downplaying fears of war with Hezbollah. The title on the article is this: Israel on alert as sectarian clashes rage across Lebanon for sixth day. I combined them.

The source is Haaretz.

OK, now that we've dispensed with questions about the source and title, let's discuss the issue.

Will there be war?

{"commentId":1790452,"threadId":"263107","contentId":"1482689","authorDomain":"paperdragon"}

1 vote

#1 - Mon May 12, 2008 6:56 AM EDT

{"commentId":1790525,"authorDomain":"brendamayer"}

Brenda Mayer

Gosh I hope not. It's already horrendous, but has the potential to get much, much worse. Hopefully someone else around here knows much more about the potential than I, and that is usually the case.

{"commentId":1790525,"threadId":"263107","contentId":"1482689","authorDomain":"brendamayer"}

#1.1 - Mon May 12, 2008 8:11 AM EDT

{"commentId":1790665,"authorDomain":"melonhead"}

urbane gorilla

I think the UNIFIL presence, while imperfect, is a hedge against that, as is Hezbollah's staying busy to the north. Still, when Hezbollah flexes its muscle, surely Israel's defense establishment pays attention.

{"commentId":1790665,"threadId":"263107","contentId":"1482689","authorDomain":"melonhead"}

1 vote

#1.2 - Mon May 12, 2008 9:02 AM EDT

{"commentId":1790693,"authorDomain":"melonhead"}

urbane gorilla

Haaretz has an analysis that calls into question various versions of reportage on this. It's main point is that Hezbollah is in control of the Lebanese army. Here's an excerpt:

Lebanese media reports clearly indicate that Hezbollah is practicing censorship over broadcasts of the various networks. Nonetheless, it can be discerned at times that the picture as broadcast from Beirut is not telling the story in full. While camouflage-spotted Lebanon Army armored personnel carriers take center screen, Hezbollah men manning roadblocks can often be seen on the margins, checking the identity papers of passersby.

There is no question that the situation in Lebanon is a ticking time bomb, and the victims will be the Lebanese people. This activity throws into relief Syria's wanting to talk about the Golan. It is curious: asking for the Golan while evidence of Syrian meddling in another nation's affairs - as Iran's proxy - rages next door.

{"commentId":1790693,"threadId":"263107","contentId":"1482689","authorDomain":"melonhead"}

1 vote

#1.3 - Mon May 12, 2008 9:14 AM EDT

{"commentId":1790730,"authorDomain":"paperdragon"}

Dennis P. McCann

This article was written by the same guy that wrote that analysis, Yoav Stern, so it's probably the best we'll be able to do as far as getting an account of what's going on.

{"commentId":1790730,"threadId":"263107","contentId":"1482689","authorDomain":"paperdragon"}

2 votes

#1.4 - Mon May 12, 2008 9:31 AM EDT

{"commentId":1791607,"authorDomain":"dincbee"}

dincbee

The central issue here is Israeli's occupation of the Arabs land. Descendant of Mr. Balfour should at least enter into prominence and play a role to undo their grandfather's mistake. Anybody knows who and where they are? Is the giant construction outfit, The Belfour Betty Plc of UK is connected to the late Mr. Belfour.
The rest are incidental to the main premise. The Israel government must concede a little, after all they have been given a state which they never should not have in the first place. The middle east conflict will go on till the resurrection of Christ, I believe.Come on, Juruslem,or Bethelhem, governed by Saladin al Ayubi was once a place for everybody,man. Everybody lives in harmony then. Who are the Jews to take control of the place that is soooo historically important to the Christian, and Muslim too. The Muslim fights for Al Aqsa mosque. I don't know why the Christian aren't doing their bit, for they say Christ wuz here! .To answer your question,there will be war.Business as usual!

{"commentId":1791607,"threadId":"263107","contentId":"1482689","authorDomain":"dincbee"}

1 vote

#1.5 - Mon May 12, 2008 2:06 PM EDT

{"commentId":1799295,"authorDomain":"brendamayer"}

Brenda Mayer

I don't know why the Christian aren't doing their bit, for they say Christ wuz here!

They did, and it didn't work out too well. It was called the Crusades.

{"commentId":1799295,"threadId":"263107","contentId":"1482689","authorDomain":"brendamayer"}

2 votes

#1.6 - Wed May 14, 2008 12:00 PM EDT

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DENNIS P. MCCANN

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Israel on alert despite downplaying fears of war with Hezbollah, as sectarian clashes rage across Lebanon for sixth day

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