Lebanon: Nasrallah warns Israel: If you hit our airport, we'll hit yours
By Elias Sakr
BEIRUT, (Daily Star): Hizbullah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah warned Tuesday that his group would bomb Israel’s infrastructure, airport and refineries in response to any attack against Lebanese infrastructure.
“I say to the Israelis that if you bomb the Rafik Hariri Airport in Beirut we will bomb Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion airport,” he said in comments transmitted via video link to thousands of supporters massed in Hizbullah’s stronghold in Beirut’s southern suburbs.
Nasrallah’s speech was in commemoration of the killing of his predecessor Abbas Moussawi, who died in an Israeli air raid in 1992, as well as Ragheb Harb, another Hizbullah leader assassinated by Israel in 1984, and top military commander Imad Mughniyeh, who died in a car bombing in Damascus on February 12, 2008.
“We will bomb your building if you bomb ours, your power plants if you bomb ours, your oil refineries if your bombs ours … I announce this challenge and we accept this challenge,” Nasrallah added.
“The only language Israel understands is that of threats,” he said.
However, Nasrallah stressed that the resistance did not seek war but was ready to face any aggressions. He also played down the odds of an Israeli attack against Lebanon, saying that Israel could not risk any partial victory or loss after the July 2006 war.
Hizbullah fought a devastating resistance campaign during Israel’s 34-day war on Lebanon in July-August 2006. UN Security Council Resolution 1701, which called on Israel to withdraw from Lebanon and for an area free of weapons south of Litani River, ended the war.
Nasrallah stressed that Israel was incapable of forcing peace resolutions based on its own conditions without withdrawing from occupied Arab land. He added that Israel was also incapable of launching a new war.
“For Israel to launch a war, it requires a guaranteed victory rather than a potential one … Israel cannot afford another blow because it would mark the beginning of its end,” he said.
The Sayyed added that the Israeli Army was currently seeking to boost its capabilities and promote the self confidence of its troops prior to any potential war. He added that such behavior delayed the occurrence of a war.
“The Israeli Iron Dome is closer to cinema fiction than reality and its benefits are very limited,” Nasrallah said in response to claims by Israeli officials that the dome would halt missile attacks by Hizbullah.
Tackling Israel’s psychological war against Lebanon, Syria and Iran, Nasrallah said it aimed to raise fears to prevent “resistance countries and movements” from increasing their military capabilities and readiness against Israel.
Nasrallah added that current Israel threats to launch a war exposed Israel’s fear and attempts to undermine the resistance’s readiness.
He added that Israel attempted to instigate strife among Palestinians and Lebanese in order to weaken resistance movements. He said Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman’s accusation of Hizbullah’s involvement in former Premier Rafik Hariri’s assassination was a “clear example.”
He argued that challenging Israeli threats with stronger threats either prevented an upcoming war or delayed it.
“When Syria was threatened by Lieberman, it responded with stronger threats through its supposedly most diplomatic official Foreign Minister Walid Moallem which surprised the Israelis … two hours later Israeli officials and Prime Minister Benyamin Netanyahu tired to correct Lieberman’s statement,” Nasrallah added.
Nasrallah praised international contacts by President Michel Sleiman and Prime Minister Saad Hariri to face Israeli threats, as he highlighted solidarity among the Lebanese concerning the resistance.
He said Lebanon’s strength “through its people, Resistance and army could protect the country against Israeli threats and preserve its sovereignty.”
“Can American promises defend Lebanon? Can international resolutions and the international community protect Lebanon? Can impartiality protect Lebanon and guarantee the Palestinian Refugees right of return?” Nasrallah asked. “History proved that only the strong are able to protect themselves.”
Nasrallah questioned certain Lebanese parties’ claims that the Resistance’s existence was in itself an excuse for Israel to launch war. He added that such claims “either provide Israel with an excuse to attack Lebanon or urge Israel to attack.”
“Where is the state’s role concerning such claims?” Nasrallah asked, adding that Israel never looked for an excuse to launch a war and created one when needed.
Tackling Mughniyeh’s assassination, Nasrallah said Hizbullah had many opportunities during the past several years to avenge his death but refrained from doing so given the “modest targets” that were available. “What we want is the vengeance [to be equal to] Mughniyeh’s level,” he said, adding that the party “did not only seek vengeance but rather looked to protect the resistance’s leaders and their cause.”
He also stressed that his party would choose “the right time, place and circumstances” to avenge Mughnieh’s death as no time constraints or pressures governed such operation.
By Elias Sakr
BEIRUT, (Daily Star): Hizbullah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah warned Tuesday that his group would bomb Israel’s infrastructure, airport and refineries in response to any attack against Lebanese infrastructure.
“I say to the Israelis that if you bomb the Rafik Hariri Airport in Beirut we will bomb Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion airport,” he said in comments transmitted via video link to thousands of supporters massed in Hizbullah’s stronghold in Beirut’s southern suburbs.
Nasrallah’s speech was in commemoration of the killing of his predecessor Abbas Moussawi, who died in an Israeli air raid in 1992, as well as Ragheb Harb, another Hizbullah leader assassinated by Israel in 1984, and top military commander Imad Mughniyeh, who died in a car bombing in Damascus on February 12, 2008.
“We will bomb your building if you bomb ours, your power plants if you bomb ours, your oil refineries if your bombs ours … I announce this challenge and we accept this challenge,” Nasrallah added.
“The only language Israel understands is that of threats,” he said.
However, Nasrallah stressed that the resistance did not seek war but was ready to face any aggressions. He also played down the odds of an Israeli attack against Lebanon, saying that Israel could not risk any partial victory or loss after the July 2006 war.
Hizbullah fought a devastating resistance campaign during Israel’s 34-day war on Lebanon in July-August 2006. UN Security Council Resolution 1701, which called on Israel to withdraw from Lebanon and for an area free of weapons south of Litani River, ended the war.
Nasrallah stressed that Israel was incapable of forcing peace resolutions based on its own conditions without withdrawing from occupied Arab land. He added that Israel was also incapable of launching a new war.
“For Israel to launch a war, it requires a guaranteed victory rather than a potential one … Israel cannot afford another blow because it would mark the beginning of its end,” he said.
The Sayyed added that the Israeli Army was currently seeking to boost its capabilities and promote the self confidence of its troops prior to any potential war. He added that such behavior delayed the occurrence of a war.
“The Israeli Iron Dome is closer to cinema fiction than reality and its benefits are very limited,” Nasrallah said in response to claims by Israeli officials that the dome would halt missile attacks by Hizbullah.
Tackling Israel’s psychological war against Lebanon, Syria and Iran, Nasrallah said it aimed to raise fears to prevent “resistance countries and movements” from increasing their military capabilities and readiness against Israel.
Nasrallah added that current Israel threats to launch a war exposed Israel’s fear and attempts to undermine the resistance’s readiness.
He added that Israel attempted to instigate strife among Palestinians and Lebanese in order to weaken resistance movements. He said Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman’s accusation of Hizbullah’s involvement in former Premier Rafik Hariri’s assassination was a “clear example.”
He argued that challenging Israeli threats with stronger threats either prevented an upcoming war or delayed it.
“When Syria was threatened by Lieberman, it responded with stronger threats through its supposedly most diplomatic official Foreign Minister Walid Moallem which surprised the Israelis … two hours later Israeli officials and Prime Minister Benyamin Netanyahu tired to correct Lieberman’s statement,” Nasrallah added.
Nasrallah praised international contacts by President Michel Sleiman and Prime Minister Saad Hariri to face Israeli threats, as he highlighted solidarity among the Lebanese concerning the resistance.
He said Lebanon’s strength “through its people, Resistance and army could protect the country against Israeli threats and preserve its sovereignty.”
“Can American promises defend Lebanon? Can international resolutions and the international community protect Lebanon? Can impartiality protect Lebanon and guarantee the Palestinian Refugees right of return?” Nasrallah asked. “History proved that only the strong are able to protect themselves.”
Nasrallah questioned certain Lebanese parties’ claims that the Resistance’s existence was in itself an excuse for Israel to launch war. He added that such claims “either provide Israel with an excuse to attack Lebanon or urge Israel to attack.”
“Where is the state’s role concerning such claims?” Nasrallah asked, adding that Israel never looked for an excuse to launch a war and created one when needed.
Tackling Mughniyeh’s assassination, Nasrallah said Hizbullah had many opportunities during the past several years to avenge his death but refrained from doing so given the “modest targets” that were available. “What we want is the vengeance [to be equal to] Mughniyeh’s level,” he said, adding that the party “did not only seek vengeance but rather looked to protect the resistance’s leaders and their cause.”
He also stressed that his party would choose “the right time, place and circumstances” to avenge Mughnieh’s death as no time constraints or pressures governed such operation.