Special to WorldTribune.com

NICOSIA — For the first time in years, Hizbullah strongholds have
been attacked in Lebanon.

Sunni gunners fired two BM-21 Grad rockets toward Hizbullah strongholds
in Beirut on May 26. Officials said the rockets fell near a church in the
southern suburbs of the Lebanese capital.

“This is an act of sabotage,” Lebanese Interior Minister Marwan Charbel
said. “We hope that what is happening in Syria will not spill over into
Lebanon.”

This marked the first attack on Hizbullah in Lebanon since the eruption
of the Sunni revolt in April 2011. Hizbullah, which in May sent 1,700
fighters to support the Syrian Army, has acknowledged that it was playing a
major role in fighting Sunni rebels in Syria.

“Five people were injured by two Grad rockets that fell 10 minutes ago
in the parking lot near the Mar Mikhael Church in the southern suburbs of
Beirut,” Lebanon’s National News Agency said.

Brig. Gen. Salim Idris, chief of the Western-backed rebel military
command, denied any responsibility for the rocket strike. But another Syrian
rebel figure said his force ordered the attack, earlier threatened by the
Syrian rebels.

“In coming days we will do more than this,” Amar Al Wawi, the rebel,
told Lebanon’s LBC Television. “This is a warning to Hizbullah and the
Lebanese government to keep Hizbullah’s hands off Syria.”

On May 25, Hizbullah secretary-general Hassan Nasrallah said his
Iranian-backed force would continue to fight for the regime of Syrian
President Bashar Assad. Nasrallah said he would maintain thousands of
Hizbullah fighters in Syria despite mounting casualties.

“We will continue to the end of the road,” Nasrallah said in a televised
address. “We accept this responsibility and will accept all sacrifices and
expected consequences of this position. We will be the ones who bring
victory.”

The rocket attack capped a week of fighting between Sunni fighters and
Alawites in northern Lebanon. At least 31 people were killed in fighting
around Tripoli, deemed a supply center of the Sunni revolt.

“We will prevent all sectarian dissent,” Ali Amar, a Lebanese
parliamentarian who represents Hizbullah, said.

  Blowback: Hizbullah in Lebanon hit by rocket attack from Syrian rebels, BM-21 Grad rockets, Brig. Gen. Salim Idris, Hassan Nasrallah, Marwan Charbel