Lebanon's stagnant and maddening political quagmire is quickly becoming a hot war that threatens to send this beautiful and violence-racked country reeling back into the dark days of the civil war. Days of Hezbollah protests and roadblocks are leading to increased confrontation. Here is the New York Times’ lead. The decision by the Lebanese government […]
Is this the beginning of the end for Hizballah? It may very well be so if the army splits and the clashes go beyond Beirut. While Hizballah threatens the government, a group of Lebanese lobbyists are in the United States asking the UN to put Lebanon under Chapter VII. If and when that happens, Hizballah […]
Gunfire erupted in Lebanon following a statement by Hizbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah. CNN reporters trapped with Lebanese forces filed breifings Thursday from downtown Beirut. The Lebanese army was pinned down by gunfire between rival Shiite and Sunni groups. Reports from the Green Line separating Sunni and Shiite communities suggest the Lebanese army, largely known for […]
Hizballah says Beirut government declares war Thu May 8, 2008 11:00am EDT By Nadim Ladki BEIRUT (Reuters) – The Iranian-backed Lebanese group Hezbollah said on Thursday the U.S.-supported Beirut government had declared war by targeting its communications network. Hezbollah launched a new street campaign on Wednesday, piling pressure on the government after it declared […]
Transcript provided in English by Now Lebanon and in Arabic by Al Manar. [Emphasis mine] Nasrallah: The government must know that it has led Lebanon into a dangerous situation. I will speak of many issues as they are. Nasrallah: The first topic is the communication network, then the issue of airport security, Chief Shoukair and […]
Officials closed the Rafik Hariri International Airport in Beirut Thursday morning as Hizballah supported demonstrators blocked the entrance with burning tires and mounds of earth. Riots and gunbattles erupted for the second straight day amid labor protests and opposition to electoral laws ushering former military commander Michel Suleiman to the presidency. Former President Emile Lahoud […]
The government got bold (thus far only in press statements) and declared Hizballah's communication network as illegal. Go figure! Second in command, Sheikh Naim Kassem warned them. “Hezbollah will deal with those who interfere with the network as if they were Israeli spies, and they will face a ferocious resistance.” Aha! So the elected government […]
After General Petraeus’ meeting at 10 Downing Street with Defense Secretary Des Browne and Sir Jock Stirrup (defense chief of staff), the general agreement was that the 4,000 strong British troop contingent would remain stationed outside of Basra for the time being. When asked about a specific time range the General replied, “The answer right […]
“The containers near the airport must be removed, the Iranian ambassador in Lebanon must be expelled from Beirut and Iranian planes must be banned from landing in Lebanon,” Jumblatt said. A report that landed on Jumblatt's desk said that Hizballah is keeping under surveillance the airport. This is yesterday's news. The airport […]
Or: Hamas Rocket Attacks Deter Israeli Humanitarian Mission Or: Israel Content to Let Gaza Fall Apart Or: Hamas Willing to Sacrifice Own People In War Against Israel So it goes when wading into the Israeli/Palestinian debate. The facts are that an Israeli convoy delivering fuel and other supplies was attacked by rocket fire and turned […]
Recently came across this blog, Humble Musings, which touches a lot on women's issues in the Middle East (and other issues germane to this blog, as well as other interesting pieces). We don't seem to get a lot of time to talk about these issues on this page, what with the author's particular obsessions, so […]
Whatever the Israelis offer, Syria won't give up its alliance with Iran, which allows it to punch above its weight in the region said Jonathan Spyer. What else is new? Every so often Assad repeats the same old, same old. The alliance with Iran is Syria's upper hand. It has Hizballah and the Palestinian […]
And no, the title isn't some kind of National Review fantasy about the links between public broadcasting and Evildoers, but rather about a segment on NPR this morning regarding the State Department's annual report on terrorism. The guest was Ambassador Dell Dailey, who talked at length about foreign fighters in Iraq returning home. We’ve discussed […]
The Arab League from its headquarters in Cairo backed a plan by Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri to hold a national reconciliation dialogue to end the political crisis in Beirut. A delegation from the 22-member Arab League plans to visit Lebanon to start a national dialogue with Berri and members of the Lebanese opposition groups […]
A hideous story from the troubled border of Yemen and Saudi Arabia. I’ll quote a few passages. Saudi policemen burned 18 Yemenis while they were trying to cross into Khamis Bani Mushait, a Saudi village bordering Yemen. Alsahwa opposition newspaper reported on Saturday that the police poured diesel onto the men, who were hiding in […]