TOP 2011 STORIES: With Syria in tailspin, Lebanon said under control of Iran, Hizbullah

TOP 2011 STORIES: With Syria in tailspin, Lebanon said under control of Iran, Hizbullah

Special to WorldTribune.com Wednesday, August 3, 2011 NICOSIA — The Lebanese government, amid the decline of its Syrian mentor, has lost control over much of the country. Opposition sources said the government of Prime Minister Najib Mikati has lost control over the military and security services. They said the pro-Hizbullah government has watched how Iran […]

Israeli military announces new unit for long-range strikes

Special to WorldTribune.com TEL AVIV — Israel’s military plans to form a long-range strike command. The military said the new unit would be commanded by a major general and help direct operations far from Israel’s borders. The commander was identified as Shai Avital, who headed the Army’s elite General Reconnaissance Unit and returned to the […]

Lebanese man indicted in U.S. for drug trafficking to finance Hizbullah

Lebanese man indicted in U.S. for drug trafficking to finance Hizbullah

Special to WorldTribune.com WASHINGTON — The United States has identified a Lebanese man as a leading drug dealer for the Iranian-sponsored Hizbullah. A U.S. federal court has indicted Ayman Joumaa of conspiracy to distribute cocaine as well as launder money. Prosecutors said Joumaa, who is not in U.S. custody, is believed to have financed Hizbullah […]

Hizbullah names CIA agents, details meetings in Beirut Starbucks, Pizza Huts

Hizbullah names CIA agents, details meetings in Beirut Starbucks, Pizza Huts

Special to WorldTribune.com NICOSIA — The Iranian-sponsored Hizbullah has disclosed details of CIA officers stationed in Lebanon, including their names and their recruitment and operational methods. “The CIA officers were active in recruiting agents from various segments of the Lebanese society — government employees, security and military personnel, religious, banking and academic figures,” Hizbullah’s Al […]

Israel sees Hizbullah targeting oil refineries near Haifa

Israel sees Hizbullah targeting oil refineries near Haifa

Special to WorldTribune.com TEL AVIV — Israel has deemed its oil refineries a key target of the Iranian-sponsored Hizbullah. Officials said Hizbullah could be expected to fire missiles and rockets toward Israel’s oil refineries around the northern city of Haifa. They cited Hizbullah rocket strikes near the refineries during the last war with Israel in […]

Christmas in Gaza strip: Hamas budget gets a boost from Arab donors

Special to WorldTribune.com GAZA CITY — Hamas has reported a significant increase in its government budget in the Gaza Strip. Hamas said it has drafted a budget of $769 million for 2012, an increase of 22 percent from this year. The Islamic regime said the key sectors in the budget were military and security. “They […]

Israeli reports dramatic increase in drone ops

Special to WorldTribune.com TEL AVIV — The Israeli military has reported a sharp increase in unmanned aerial vehicle operations. Officials said the Israel Air Force has increased its UAV operations by more than 50 percent. They said the increase took place over the last five years, with persistent surveillance in both the Gaza Strip and […]

Congress probes disastrous arrests of CIA assets for Iran, Lebanon

Special to WorldTribune.com Geostrategy-Direct.com WASHINGTON — Members of the House and Senate Select Committees on Intelligence have been briefed on the arrests of at least a dozen CIA operatives in Lebanon. The arrests have badly damaged U.S. monitoring of Iran and its chief proxy, Hizbullah. “It is hard to overestimate the damage,” one official said. […]

Winter: Bankers warn Arab states are in economic ‘state of emergency’

Special to WorldTribune.com NICOSIA — The Arab world, shaken by major revolts in several countries, has experienced a sharp economic decline. Leading Middle East bankers have warned that Arab League states were plunged into what they termed a “state of emergency.” They said the pro-democracy revolts in such countries as Bahrain, Egypt, Libya, Syria and […]

Report: NATO states including France said to be recruiting, training Syrian rebels

Report: NATO states including France said to be recruiting, training Syrian rebels

Special to WorldTribune.com ANKARA — France is reportedly training rebels in their effort to topple the regime of Syrian President Bashar Assad. A major Turkish newspaper reported that France has sent military advisers to train the Free Syrian Army. FSA, based in Turkey, was said to have received training in weapons and combat skills in […]