The London-based A-Sharq Al Awsat reported that Iran has recruited at
least 1,500 Hizbullah fighters to protect the mullah regime. The Saudi-owned
newspaper said Iran brought the Hizbullah officers from Lebanon to Teheran
this month amid plans by the opposition to renew protests.
In a report on Feb. 21, A-Sharq Al Awsat said the Hizbullah fighters
were deployed in plain clothes to patrol the streets of Teheran, Middle East Newsline reported. The
newspaper said Hizbullah was ordered to assault anti-government protests,
particularly in the Iranian capital.
Also In This Edition
Over the last five years, the Iranian opposition has reported the use of
Hamas as well as Hizbullah to quell unrest. Opposition sources said the
mercenaries were often deployed with Iran's Basij, a paramilitary force
trained for urban warfare.
The opposition was said to have reorganized amid the riots that toppled
the presidents of Egypt and Tunisia. At least two people have been killed in
clashes between Iranian security forces and protesters in Teheran.
Earlier, Hizbullah was said to have been deployed in Syria to protect
the regime of President Bashar Assad. Opposition sources said about 2,000
Hizbullah fighters crossed from Lebanon to Syria and were stationed around
critical facilities.
ShareThis
