Iran shipped arms to Hizbullah as Syria talks began

Syria has allowed Iran to rearm Hizbullah in an effort to facilitate the Shi'ite militia's current offensive against Israeli troops in south Lebanon, military sources said.

The sources said that over the last month Syria has allowed increased shipments of weapons, mortars and what was described as advanced systems to arrive from Damascus airport by land to Lebanon. They said the stepped-up shipments began during the negotiations between Israel and Syria in early January.

"The Iranians supply the Hizbullah and the Syrians allow the shipments to arrive," a senior source said.

The new supplies have allowed Hizbullah to launch numerous attack missions daily against Israeli and South Lebanese Army troops and positions, the sources said. They said Hizbullah fired up to 70 mortar rounds toward injured Israeli troops near the border on Sunday. One Israeli soldier was killed and seven were injured.

The sources said Israel has raised the Iranian supply of Hizbullah with the United States. They said Israel has asked the United States to warn Syria to end the arms supply to ensure the resumption of peace talks, suspended last month.

The Israeli daily Haaretz said on Monday that Hizbullah is storing its weapons in warehouses throughout populated areas of southern Lebanon. The newspaper said Israel has failed to strike the warehouses or intercept trucks laden with weapons.

The sources said Syria has allowed the Hizbullah buildup for several reasons. One is that this has been a demand by Iran, which has agreed not to criticize talks between Damascus and Jerusalem. A second reason is that Syria wants Hizbullah to be able to fight Israel in a prolonged war in any confrontation in southern Lebanon.

This would include a scenario in which Israel unilaterally withdraws from Lebanon. The sources said Hizbullah is expected to continue attacks against Israel even after a troop pullout.

Regional diplomats said the European Union has urged Iran to end its support for the Hizbullah campaign. EU representatives have told the Iranians that the campaign would torpedo the Middle East peace process as well as a rapproachment between the West and Teheran.

So far, Iran has dismissed the EU effort, including plans for a visit by EU peace envoy Miguel Moratinos. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Hamid Reza Asefi said Moratinos has no plans to visit Teheran.

In Beirut, the son and heir-apparent of President Hafez Assad, Bashar, discussed the fighting in south Lebanon with Lebanese President Emile Lahoud. Bashar was joined by Syrian military intelligence chief Ghazi Kanaan.

Diplomatic sources said Bashar is not expected to meet Hizbullah leaders.