Hezbollah Is Ready
It was never a secret that Syria and Iran have been helping Hezbollah replenish its weapons stock. What is surprising is how successful they have been. Time Magazine reports that Hezbollah has re-supplied to the extent that their short range missile supply is currently at pre-war levels of approximately 20,000 units. This disputes earlier Israeli and Saudi intelligence reports that Hezbollah has replenished only half its supply. Time's diplomatic source says, "The Iranian pipeline through Syria was already working during the war, despite constant Israeli bombing raids on the roads into Lebanon from Syria."
Syria and Iran have denied any involvement. When Hezbollah was asked whether they have received new weapons they replied;
"We have more than enough weapons if Israel tries to attack us again."
As if Israel attacked the first time.
More from Time:
Over the past three months, according to a knowledgeable Saudi source, Iranian Revolutionary Guard officers have been operating out of a military base on the outskirts of Damascus. The Iranian government has dispatched shipments of small arms and what appear to be missile components to this military base, according to the source. From the secret base, weapons have been shipped by truck across the border into Lebanon. Western diplomats say that the Lebanese army has posted over 8,000 troops along the border, forcing smugglers to use mountain passes instead of the heavily-monitored crossing on the main Beirut-Damascus road.
Nawaf Obaid, a Saudi security advisor who is managing director of the Riyadh-based Saudi National Security Assessment Project claims that Iran is using its embassies in Damascus and Beirut as command centers, and are working closely along side Hezbollah representatives in the Beirut embassy.
None of this should come as any surprise. It was clear from day one that weapons were being transferred from Iran. What is worrisome is the level of complicity. Hezbollah is sheltering itself under Iran's diplomatic immunity. What is worrisome is the lack of interest shown by the UN and the West. The French forces in UNIFIL have threatened to shoot down Israeli reconnaissance planes for violating Resolution 1701, yet they have done absolutely nothing to stop Hezbollah from rearming. In fact, they are indirectly helping. By removing Israel from the picture, they have assured that Hezbollah will be left on its own to do as it pleases. This inaction is only setting the stage for Round Two.
Crossposted from The American Israeli Patriot
Labels: Hezbollah, Israel, Lebanon
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