Dear friends, On May 25th Lebanon, at least that part of Lebanon which cares about its freedom, marks “Liberation and Resistance Day”: the day when Hezbollah defeated Israel after a brutal 22 year long occupation and expelled the Zionists out of Lebanon. This day, however, should be celebrated by all those who believe “that resistance is life and life is resistance” because what happened 8 years ago was the first
A deal has finally been reached in Doha. The BBC reports that the Western-backed government and the pro-Syrian opposition arrived at the deal after days of talks in Qatar. Under the deal, the opposition – led by the Hezbollah political and militant group – will have the power of veto in a new cabinet of national unity. It also paves the way for parliament to elect a new president. The
Oh, boy, take a look at this: Druze politician Walid Jumblatt has said that the Lebanese government and the majority bloc would support Hezbollah and the resistance. In a meeting with Qatari Premier Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim Al-Thani, Jumblatt reportedly sent a message to Hezbollah leader Seyyed Hassan Nasrallah to announce that hostility between the two sides is temporary and Mount Lebanon would support the resistance movement, al-Jazeera TV reported.
What is inevitable tends to happen, doesn’t it? This is the novel conclusion which Hariri, Siniora and Jumblatt have (finally!) come to. They have agreed to oficially revoke the anti-Hezbollah decision which had triggered the conflict last week. Which is a good thing, considering that these decisions were not implementable anyway. Hopefully they will soon come to the next inevitable conclusion: its time that they joined their pal Gemayel in
The following is the summary of the remarks made by Hussein Al-Khalil, Political advisor to Hezbollah leader Seyyed Hassan Nasrallah in a press conference in Beirut on May 12 as transcribed by Press TV: We remember what happened between us and the ruling majority we had thought they had good intentions, Nasrallah said if their intentions were not good the opposition would go on with the peaceful strike until the
Yesterday President Dubya, in an interview to the BBC, made one of those statements which will enter future history books as among the dumbest ever uttered by any head of state: the USA will send more money to the Lebanese Army to help them to get the weapons they need to defeat Hezbollah. Amazing, isn’t it? Obviously, the great President of the only ‘hyperpower’ on the planet does not read
ANALYSIS / Who will stop Hezbollah? Not the Lebanon Army By Yoav Stern, Haaretz Correspondent (original article here) Hezbollah’s rapid and savvy raids of recent days brought to light the true balance of power in Lebanon, and, at the same time, the close connection between the Lebanon Army and Hezbollah. Witness accounts of Hezbollah’s actions in Lebanon in the course of the incidents demonstrate not only that the Lebanon Army
The past week saw two extremely important events take place simultaneously: the US occupation forces had to stop their offensive against the Sadrists in Baghdad and the complete collapse of the pro-US/Israeli regime in Lebanon. In the latter case it now appears that Hezbollah literally *owns* Lebanon and that the puppet regime of Siniora, Hariri and Jumblatt only was left alive because Hassan Nasrallah decided to deal with them on
Press TV reports: The Lebanese Army Commander has rescinded anti-opposition decisions made by the government which led to escalation of tensions in Lebanon. According to a Press TV correspondent in Beirut General Michel Suleiman reinstalled Airport General Wafiq Shuqair on Saturday. The army Chief has also lifted a government-ordered ban on Hezbollah’s telecommunications network. “As for the telecommunications network, the army will look into the issue in a manner that
(original photos contributed to this blog by Abdul Latif Fawaz from Beirut) Press TV reports: Fresh clashes have reportedly erupted between supporters of rival political camps in Lebanon after a brief lull on Friday evening. Fierce armed clashes broke out between supporters of the Lebanese government and the opposition in the neighborhoods of al-Jadida, Kornish al-Mazra and Cola Bridge. Gunmen also attacked the residence of Omar Karami, the former Lebanese
Press TV reports: Al-Qaeda has reportedly called on its operatives to go to Lebanon and defend what it called the “Sunni community of the country”. The report came while some Arab media outlets described the current clashes in Lebanon as a fight between Sunni and Shia communities. In an interviews with Sunni clerics with links to Saad Hariri’s pro-government bloc, Al-Arabiya TV network described the ongoing clashes as a sectarian
(AFP) Convoys of gunmen firing celebratory shots into the air and flashing the victory sign took to the streets on Friday after the Hezbollah-led opposition seized control of west Beirut following fierce firefights with Sunni pro-government supporters. Motorcycles, jeeps and cars crammed with militants hanging out of the windows roamed otherwise deserted streets of the Lebanese capital, wildly firing machine guns. Many gunmen also posed for each other, taking photographs
U.S.-backed security forces protect government buildings but avoid street clashes. “The situation is chaotic,” says one official. By Raed Rafei and Borzou Daragahi for the Los Angeles Times BEIRUT — The Shiite militia Hezbollah today handily took over much of the capital in a dramatic escalation of the months-long confrontation with the Western-backed government, security officials said. As Hezbollah swept through West Beirut, Lebanon’s security forces, which received more than
Press TV reports: The Lebanese army has taken control of the pro-government Future TV station and al-Mostaqbal newspaper as radio al-Sharq has gone off air. The TV station is owned by Saad al-Hariri, leader of Lebanon’s Western-backed ruling coalition. Amid ongoing clashes in Beirut, some 800 gunmen affiliated to Hariri’s al-Mostaqbal (Future) Movement surrendered to the army last night. The opposition has reportedly taken full control of key neighborhoods of
AFP via al-Manar: The Lebanese National Opposition announced western Beirut under its control, according to AFP. Calm has prevailed in most areas in the Lebanese capital Beirut, after the latest incidents saw the mercenaries of the Mustakbal militia flee from most neighborhoods. Residents as well as National Opposition loyalists forced Mustakabal gunmen to lay down their arms and surrender. From the Watwat area to Zaydaniyeh, Tamer Mallat neighborhood, Tallet al-Khayyat,
Alalam news reports that General Aoun said in a televised speech on Thursday: “I place all the blame on the government.” Aoun voiced support for comments earlier made by Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah that the political divide had a “political rather than a sectarian dimension to it.” Nasrallah warned on Thursday that a Lebanese government crackdown on his group was tantamount to a “declaration of war” on behalf of
Hizbullah secretary general Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah said during a press conference Thursday that Lebanon has entered a new phase of its political crisis and warned that a government crackdown on his party was tantamount to a “declaration of war.” Nasrallah stressed that Hizbullah was ready to return to dialogue, linking talks to a government back-track regarding measures taken Tuesday. The eruption of violence is immediately rooted in a Cabinet decision
According to a Press TV correspondent in Lebanon, opposition forces have now taken full control of west Beirut. Opposition forces have stormed the Ras al-Naba area which is a key stronghold of the western-backed ruling coalition. They have detained gunmen loyal to the government and handed them over to the Lebanese army. Reports also say guards have now fled the offices belonging to coalition leader Saad al-Hariri’s Future Group. Informed
