Iran-backed Hizbullah takes charge in Palestinian war effort
SPECIAL TO WORLD TRIBUNE.COM
Tuesday, May 8, 2001
GAZA — The Hizbullah has been the prime sponsor of attacks on Israel from Palestinian areas in the weeks since a war summit hosted by its sponsor, the government of Iran.
The Hizbullah has increased activities and recruitment in plans to
attacks Israel. The group has claimed responsibility for attacks that are
said to have been planned by its Iranian sponsors.
So far, a group called Hizbullah-Palestine has claimed responsibility
for three bombings in Israel, Middle East Newsline reported. The latest was that of a bombing in the
Israeli suburb of Petach Tikvah on Sunday. Five Israelis were injured in the
attack.
Israeli sources said Hizbullah agents in Gaza have obtained weapons via
Egypt or through the Israeli black market. They said Palestinians are
trained in Lebanon and sent back to Gaza and the West Bank to form cells.
Iranian agents provide orders to the Hizbullah in Gaza regarding how and
when to launch attacks.
But U.S. officials said Hizbullah has had greater difficulty in
obtaining weapons. The officials said Iran has been unable to fly weapons
from Teheran through Turkish airspace since Ankara intercepted several
Iranian jets bound for Damascus and believed loaded with weapons.
The Los Angeles Times quoted U.S. officials as saying that Iranian
weapons shipments arrive to Syria by land or sea.
On April 23, Iran hosted an international conference to support the
Palestinian mini-war against Israel. About 35 Arab and Islamic nations participated in the meetings. But the Hizbullah delegation was the center of attention.
Hizbullah's next move against Israel was a focal point of the week.
Iranian leader Ali Khamenei was quoted as telling Hizbullah's chief Hassan Nasrallah to continue
attacks against Israel. Iranian state television reported Khamenei said
the Lebanese Shi'ite movement should take action along the
Lebanese border with Israel and cooperate with Palestinian and Lebanese
groups.
"Hizbullah should be vigilant and take the initiative in fighting
against the Zionist regime," Iranian television said in a report on
Khamenei's meeting.
Iranian sources said the talks centered on Hizbullah's plans to confront
Israel in wake of a missile attack that killed an Israeli soldier along the
Lebanese border earlier last month. Israel retaliated by destroying a Syrian
radar station in Lebanon.
Israeli military sources said Iran has accelerated weapons shipments to
Hizbullah. This has included deliveries of Katyusha rockets with a range of
70 kilometers.
The sources said Hizbullah has also launched cooperation with the Force
17 praetorian guard of Palestinian Authority Chairman Yasser Arafat.
Hizbullah has trained Force 17 as well as supplied its members with mortars,
rockets and missiles.
Tuesday, May 8, 2001
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