Special to WorldTribune.com

LONDON — The Iranian-sponsored Hizbullah has been training Shi’ites
from Syria.

Arab diplomatic sources said Hizbullah has trained Shi’ites in combat
skills in Lebanon’s Bekaa Valley. They said the Shi’ites would be sent to
defend their villages in southwestern Syria from attacks by Sunni rebels.

“Hizbullah has been establishing a force as well as proxies throughout
the Shi’ite enclave in Syria,” a source said.

The Saudi daily A-Sharq Al Awsat said Hizbullah was also providing
salaries to 1,500 Syrian Shi’ite cadets. The London-based newspaper said Hizbullah was deploying forces in both Christian and Shi’ite towns around Damascus and Homs.

The Free Syrian Army has confirmed the reports of Hizbullah
intervention. FSA said Hizbullah was sending units to villages and towns in
Syria, including Jabal Al Qalamoun last month.

The sources said Hizbullah has been assigned an expanded role in
quelling the Sunni revolt in Syria. They said Hizbullah sent 5,000 fighters
to help the regime of Syrian President Bashar Assad over the last two
months.

  Bashar Assad, Bekaa Valley, Damascus, Free Syrian Army, Hizbullah trains Syrian Shi’ites in Bekaa Valley to defend hometowns from rebel attacks, Jabal Al Qalamoun