<%@LANGUAGE="VBSCRIPT" CODEPAGE="1252"%> WorldTribune.com: Mobile Ñ Bad timing: Iran reins in Hizbullah operations on Israel's border

Bad timing: Iran reins in Hizbullah operations on Israel's border

Thursday, July 30, 2009   E-Mail this story   Free Headline Alerts

LONDON Ñ Iran ordered Hizbullah to reduce provocations along the border with Israel due to concerns about timing, diplomatic sources said.

Arab diplomatic sources said the Teheran regime relayed orders to Hizbullah's military and political leadership to lower tension with Israel. The sources said Iran was concerned over an Israeli military response that could result in a war similar to that in 2006. "Iran does not want a war right now that could undo the gains made over the last few months with the United States and Europeans," an Arab diplomat said. On July 24, Hizbullah ordered an end to demonstrations along the Israeli border, Middle East Newsline reported. The demonstrations included infiltration by Hizbullah operatives and supporters into Israeli-controlled territory.

The Kuwaiti daily A-Siyassa reported that Amal and Hizbullah pledged to the United Nations that the Shi'ite groups would block anti-Israeli demonstrations. The newspaper said Hizbullah has sought to avoid a confrontation with the Israeli military.

But A-Siyassa said Hizbullah has already coopted a portion of the Lebanese military to fight Israel. The newspaper said a Lebanese Army battalion, based near the Litani River, has been secretly trained and equipped by Hizbullah.

The sources said Hizbullah has sought to raise tension along the Israeli border in wake of the Shi'ite movement's defeat in Lebanese parliamentary elections in June 2009. They said Hizbullah was concerned over the prospect of a new pro-U.S. government in Beirut that could prepare to restrict pro-Iranian elements in the country.

Both Israel and Lebanon have declared an alert over their mutual border. The sources said Israel's military has reinforced border troops and intensified air operations amid an assessment that Hizbullah rebuilt its network of bunkers damaged in the 2006 war.

"At the moment, there is quiet all along the border," Israeli Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Gabi Ashkenazi said on July 28.

At the same time, Hizbullah has warned of a massive rocket attack on Tel Aviv. Hizbullah secretary-general Hassan Nasrallah said Israel could launch an offensive into Lebanon over the next eight months.

On July 28, Lebanese security sources reported Israel Air Force operations throughout southern Lebanon. The sources said Israel Army Merkava Mk-4 main battle tanks approached the Lebanese border.

"It [an Israeli attack] will be sometime between the end of this year and next spring," Nasrallah said.

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