The Middle-East Observer
Hezbollah
Understanding Iran’s diplomatic strategy
In this article, Gareth Porter analyses Iran’s strategy for negotiations with the United States, for the past ten years. He explains how uranium enrichment and the subsequent development of nuclear capabilities act as the main bargaining chip in Iran’s negotiation strategy with the United States. He also gives us the aims of the Iranian strategy and what their demands to … Continue reading
Analysis: Israeli-Iranian war now out of shadows
Israeli intelligence believes that the terrorist attacks in the past two days were orchestrated by the Iran-Hezbollah axis and targeted foreign Israeli diplomatic missions. The attacks seem rushed due to their consistently poor execution, but the message of the bombings is clear. Iran is determined to attack Israel by any means and hopes to eventually … Continue reading
Israel accuses Iran, Hezbollah after bombers attack embassies in India, Georgia
According to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Hezbollah attempted to target Israeli embassies in India and Georgia today. The bomb in Tbilisi, Georgia was defused before it was able to cause harm but in New Delhi, Israel’s defense attaché’s wife was wounded following the placement of explosives under the car by motorcyclists. Though the attack was poorly executed, … Continue reading
Analysis: Is Syria the next Iraq?
Ron Ben Yishai writes about the possibility that the Syrian uprising will result in the country’s breaking up in ethnic, autonomic, hostile regions that are barely connected. One of the signs of disintegration is that some chiefs of important Alawite tribes, once loyal to Bashar Al Assad, have started to declare that they are no … Continue reading
Lebanon upholds verdict over general’s Israel leaks
Retired Lebanese general Fayez Karam’s sentence of two years in jail was upheld by a military court on Tuesday in Lebanon. The politician, member of the Christian Free Patriotic Movement (FPM), a group allied with Hezbollah, was found guilty of providing information to Israeli intelligence services n the two groups, but not of spying for … Continue reading
Analysis: ‘Hezbollah has long-range surface-to-air missiles’
The Israeli army is reevaluating the threat from Lebanon as it will now operate under the assumption that Hezbollah is in possession of advanced weapons system obtained since the beginning of the upheaval in Syria. These weapons systems include sophisticated long-range surface-to-air missile and Russian-made air-defense systems. Jerusalem Post, Israel Click here for the full story
Israeli army says a nuclear Iran could deter Israeli military action against Hamas, Hezbollah
An Israeli military official said on Tuesday that a nuclear Iran could severely reduce Israel’s leeway in dealing with militant groups at its borders, including Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon. “If we are forced to do things in Gaza or in Lebanon, under the Iranian nuclear umbrella it might be different,” Maj. Gen. Amir Eshel … Continue reading
Israelis warned of imminent terror attack in Bangkok
Both US and Israeli embassies have issued travel warnings for their citizens in and around the capital of Thailand, Bangkok. This comes after the warning of a possible terror attack in the area and the apprehension of a Lebanese national thought to be a member of Lebanese militant group Hezbollah. The Thai police are further … Continue reading
Hezbollah says Ban Ki-moon not welcome in Lebanon
As the secretary-general of the UN is set to arrive in Lebanon on Friday, Sheikh Mohammad Yazbek, head of Hezbollah’s Shura Council, said that Ban Ki-Moon is not welcome. This follows Ban’ criticisms of Hezbollah, saying that the group was a threat for the stability of Lebanon. The Daily Star, Lebanon Click here for the … Continue reading
Hezbollah reiterates support for Syria
The head of Hezbollah’s Shura Council, Sheikh Mohammad Yazbek, said over the weekend the resistance group would remain supportive of Syria in the face of conspiracies. “Syria’s only guilt is the support it has given to those who resist and we will stand by this country, its army, leadership and people so that it would … Continue reading
Analysis: Neither Hezbollah, Israel has interest in new war
The escalating violence in Syria and renewed speculation of an imminent attack against Iran’s nuclear facilities have the potential to bring Hezbollah and Israel closer to war in 2012 than at any other time since the last one ended five years ago. Yet despite the uncertainties surrounding a volatile and rapidly changing Middle East, as … Continue reading
Analysis: Will Hizbullah Get Syria’s WMD if Assad Goes Down?
When—or even if—the spiraling protests will push the Syrian leader out of power is unclear. But Israel fears that Assad’s chemical weapons could end up with Hizbullah—or that he could resort to desperate measures. The Daily Beast, United States Click here for the full story
Hezbollah denies drugs, money laundering claims
Lebanese group Hezbollah on Thursday denied charges by the United States that the Shiite militant movement was involved in drug trafficking and money laundering schemes to fund its activities. Agence France-Presse, France Click here for the full story
Israel concerned by increased Hezbollah violence in south Lebanon
Israeli defense officials are worried about an increase in violent activity by Hezbollah in southern Lebanon, agreeing with a French assessment that the Shi’ite group is responsible for recent strikes against the UN force in the area. Haaretz, Israel Click here for the full story
Lebanese defense minister blames Israel for rocket attacks
Lebanese Defense Minister Fayez Ghosn Monday blamed Israel and its agents for the firing of mysterious rockets from Lebanon into the Jewish state in an attempt to undermine security and stability in south Lebanon. The Daily Star, Lebanon Click here for the full story
Lebanon army: We dismantled rockets aimed at Israel
The Lebanese army dismantled on Monday four rockets in southern Lebanon that were set to be fired into Israel, a Lebanese security official said. An Israeli military spokesperson said that the presence of weapons in southern Lebanon was “a concern” and a clear violation of UN Resolution 1701, which ended the 2006 war between Israel and … Continue reading
Report: Hezbollah in dire financial straits
French daily Le Figaro reported that the civil uprising in Syria against President Bashar al-Assad has significantly reduced the flow of money to Hezbollah. Moreover, the report said, Iran has recently cut its financial aid to Hezbollah by 25% due in part to the international sanctions imposed on the Islamic Republic over its nuclear program. Ynetnews, Israel Click here … Continue reading
Opinion: What if the Syrians had still been here?
The tendency among many Lebanese today is to deride the Independence Intifada of 2005. This is a result of the high expectations unleashed, then dashed by Lebanon’s factionalism and sectarianism. The Daily Star, Lebanon Click here for the full story
Hezbollah protests release of 4 convicted Israeli spies
Hezbollah officials protested Tuesday the release of four Lebanese convicted of collaboration with Israel and asked for “an explanation of the legal reasons” behind the move, during a visit to the justice minister and the state prosecutor. The Daily Star, Lebanon Click here for the full story
Syria denies involvement in attack on UNIFIL
Syria denies involvement in a bombing that wounded five French U.N. peacekeepers in southern Lebanon, a day after France said Damascus was probably behind the attack. The Daily Star, Lebanon Click here for the full story
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