"Do not fear the maneuvers of the enemy," Hizbullah secretary-general
Hassan Nasrallah said on May 22.
Israel has completed preparations for an air and ground exercise in the
north in an effort to enhance defenses in any regional war that could
involve Iran and Syria. The exercise, scheduled to begin on May 23, was
expected to last a week.
"Hizbullah fighters have [been instructed] to be completely ready to
confront Israeli maneuvers on Sunday [May 23]," Nabil Qawk, commander of
Hizbullah forces in southern Lebanon, said.
The Israeli exercise coincides with municipal elections in Lebanon.
Hizbullah said it has withdrawn thousands of soldiers assigned to secure the
elections to face Israel's military.
On May 21, the Lebanese Army reported the discovery of a rocket near the
border with Israel. The unidentified rocket found near Hasbaya was part of a
search by the Army for weapons south of the Litani River.
Hizbullah ally Syria has also reported a mobilization to confront
Israel's military. Syria was said to have deployed Scud C and D
extended-range ballistic missiles along the border with Lebanon.
"In the event of any new attack on Lebanon, the Israelis will not find
anywhere in Palestine to hide," Qawk told Agence France Presse on May 21.