Iran's Khamenei orders Hizbullah to attack Israel

NICOSIA -- Iran is urging Hizbullah to continue attacks on Israel.

Iran's supreme leader Ali Khamenei told Hizbullah secretary-general Hassan Nasrallah on Wednesday that his group must continue its military campaign against Israel until what he termed the liberation of Palestine. The Iranian leader pledged what he described as Teheran's full support for the effort.

For his part, Nasrallah said Hizbullah would resume attacks on Israel unless it fulfills all of Lebanon's territorial demands and releases Shi'ite prisoners, Middle East Newsline reports. The United Nations, which monitored the withdrawal, said an Israeli presence remains along 12 border points in Lebanon.

"We have thought from the first day and until now that the only way to regain Palestinian rights is through resistance and refusal to concede anything," Nasrallah said on Wednesday. "And anything other effort is a waste of time."

Nasrallah is heading a Hizbullah delegation that is meeting its Iranian sponsors, Khamenei and President Mohammed Khatami.

"The Islamic Republic of Iran contibuted to the great victory of the Lebanese people and everyone is aware of the hardships it has endured for this purpose," Nasrallah said on his arrival on Tuesday. "On behalf of the world Muslim leaders, we have come to Iran to congratulate the Iranian Muslim nation and the government on this achievement."

"Although Israel has evacuated large parts of Lebanese territory, some regions are still under its control," Nasrallah said. "And we will struggle to liberate those territories."

The Hizbullah leader also met representatives of Palestinian groups aligned with Iran. They included Hamas and Islamic Jihad. A Hamas representative hailed Nasrallah as the new Salah Eddin, the Arab hero who drove out the Crusaders nearly 900 years ago.

"We need a Salah Eddin in Palestine and with God's help he [Nasrallah] will fulfill this role," the Hamas representative, Ataru Salah Eddin, said.

Arab diplomatic sources following Hizbullah said Nasrallah is expected to hear a different message from Iranian President Mohammed Khatami. The sources said Khatami and his reformist allies oppose Teheran's support for a renewed military campaign against Israel after its May 24 withdrawal from Lebanon.

The Hizbullah talks with Iranian leaders in Teheran are the first since the Israeli pullout. Israeli sources Hizbullah and its Palestinian allies are preparing for renewed attacks along the Lebanese border. They said they expect the attacks to begin after Lebanese parliamentary elections, scheduled to conclude in September.