Published: July 12, 2006
Op-Ed Contributor
Crossfire War - War Against Israel Expands into Southern Lebanon
By Willard Payne
Crossfire War - TEHRAN WATCH - Middle East Theatre - Israel: Tehran - Beirut/Jerusalem; Lebanon - Hezbollah Enter War Against Israel - Hezbollah Abducts Two Israeli Soldiers in Crossborder Raid - Israel Enters and Shells S. Lebanon
Night Watch: BEIRUT - The war against Israel has expanded into southern Lebanon. Hezbollah captured two Israeli soldiers in a crossborder raid. Israel has already responded with air strikes, artillery bombardment and with gunboats. As of this writing five Lebanese bridges have been destroyed. Beirut and Hezbollah have said that Israel has not yet penetrated far into the country. Hamas praised the capture and said it proves Israel's army is not invincible. [
ALJAZEERA]
Israel Army Chief of Staff Lieutenant - General Dan Halutz warned Beirut that Israel will attack Lebanon's infrastructure and "turn back the clock in Lebanon 20 years" if the two soldiers were not returned. Israel Prime Minister Ehud Olmert called the Hezbollah raid "an act of war" and promised a "very painful and far-reaching response. We are already responding with great strength...The cabinet will convene tonight to decide on a further military response by the Israeli Defense Forces."
This is in complete accordance to Tehran's script for preparing, justifying and then joining the next major war with Israel. It was exactly one month ago to the day that Tehran - Damascus made their military Axis official with the completion of the agreement in Tehran to combine their security. Iran Defense Minister Brigadier Mostafa Mohammad Najjar was even quoted as saying "Syria's security is Iran's security." We are about to see the agreement in action. I suspect both Syria and Iran will very publicly complain and denounce the violation of Lebanon's territorial integrity by Israel's response. That will be their excuse to join the war.
Debka reported at the time of the agreement that it paved the way for Iranian units to be deployed in Syria near the Golan Heights and as a result Israel was inspecting its defenses along its northern border with Lebanon. I assume Iranian units are now in place and waiting their marching orders, which will be given when Israel launches larger attacks against Hezbollah -Lebanon.
Regulars readers of crossfirewar.com know that for more than a year I have been saying Tehran intends to use the next major war with Israel as another unifying crises for the Islamic world. Another crisis Tehran will use to maintain their position of leadership. A position that has been establish since the Khomeini revolution of 1979. The entire foundation of Tehran's foreign policy ever since then has been crises creation which Tehran's government and supporters see as a way of not only guaranteeing their security but as the vehicle to pursue their religious calling. Other fronts like Iraq-Afghanistan-Kashmir-Caucasus-Balkans have served the same purpose. But none of them will generate the spritual-emotional response than Israel and Jerusalem with its Al Aqsa mosque.
This is the Jihad running its destructive, hateful course, which Islamic governments support, officialy or unofficial, with the exception of Cairo, because they see it as a way of ending the West's ability to manipulate events in the Middle East. It is, in so many ways, a continuation of one of the world's oldest rivalries. That is why we now see Iran President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad constantly warning the West of the hatred that has been increasing against them by Muslims for their support, or their perceived support, of Israel. [IRNA]
Night Watch Information Service
www.crossfirewar.com
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