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Syria, Lebanon rejoice over Hizbullah attack on Israel
Special to World Tribune.com
MIDDLE EAST NEWSLINE
Wednesday, February 2, 2000
NICOSIA [MENL] -- Syria and Lebanon on Tuesday expressed satisfaction with
Hizbullah's deadly attack on Israeli troops and raised the prospect of
massive retaliation.
Lebanese President Emile Lahoud told the Beirut-based daily A-Safir on
Tuesday that the attack was worthy of praise and was necessary to expel
Israeli troops from southern Lebanon. Lahoud said Hizbullah was shedding
blood to ensure the liberation of Lebanese territory.
"There is no alternative to the liberation of Lebanon even though these
activities are an exception to the political game," Lahoud said.
Other Lebanese ministers were quoted on Tuesday as also expressing
praise for Hizbullah while raising the prospect of Israeli retaliation.
State-run Damascus radio did not directly praise the attack. But it
quoted Lebanese ministers as doing so. The Syrian Al Baath daily blamed
Israel for the attack and called for a full withdrawal from southern Lebanon
and the territories captured by Israel in the 1967 war.
The newspaper said Israel is leading to repeated deteriorations in the
area and said the Jewish state can not rely on force. Tishrin echoed the
assertions.
Wednesday, February 2, 2000
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