NICOSIA Ñ Mounting tensions on Lebanon's southern border with Israel have been accompanied by threats and shelling attacks by the Iranian-backed Hizbullah and the banning by Israel of civil aviation in the area.
In addiiton,Lebanon plans to enforce its military draft amid rising
tensions along the southern border with Israel.
Hizbullah, which controls
southern Lebanon, has launched repeated anti-aircraft shelling of northern
Israeli towns and cities, Middle East Newsline reported.
Israeli military sources said Hizbullah has deployed an anti-aircraft
missile called Messenger-1. The shoulder-fired missile is said to have a
range of four kilometers.
Last week, Israeli authorities banned civil aviation from the
Israeli-Lebanese border until further notice. The authorities ordered civil
airplanes and helicopters to stay five kilometers from the border.
Hizbullah secretary-general Hassan Nasrallah warned that Israel plans to
attack Lebanon and Syria during any U.S.-led war against Iraq. He said
Hizbullah would help protect Lebanon.
"We smell in the Israeli media campaign about Hizbullah's growing
firepower the smack of arrangements for a large-scale military offensive in
Lebanon and possibly against Syria," Nasrallah said. "But the enemy must
realize that the resistance has gained a much bigger military potential than
in 2000 and we look forward to a greater victory that of the defeat of the
Israeli occupation two years ago."
The Lebanese military has called on all 18-year-olds to report to
register for the draft within three months of their birthday. A statement by
the military's high command warned that those who fail to register would be
classified as deserters.
The military statement said Lebanese teenagers can seek exemption from
the draft. But they said the decision would be taken by local recruitment
offices.
Lebanon has a one-year compulsory military service. It has been largely
ignored since the 1975 civil war and most of those who have been drafted
over the last decade were youngsters from poor families.
The military's warning comes as tension continues to increase along
Lebanon's border with Israel. The Iranian-backed
