Israel: Lebanon to Thwart U.S. Strike
By LAURIE COPANS 09/27/2002 13:55:11 EST
JERUSALEM (AP) - Iran has been supplying Lebanese guerrillas with thousands of
missiles for an attack on Israel that would apparently be timed to disrupt a possible
U.S. strike on Iraq, a senior Israeli official said Friday.
The missiles, as well as several hundred Iranian Revolutionary Guards, have reached
the Hezbollah militia unhindered through Syrian airports and roads, said the official,
who spoke on condition of anonymity. Syria is the main power broker in Lebanon.
The Lebanese government dismissed the Israeli reports as propaganda aimed at
discrediting Lebanon. Residents on the Lebanese side of the border said they've seen
no evidence that Hezbollah is preparing for war, and a Western diplomat said there
were no signs the guerrilla group was stockpiling weapons.
Israeli Foreign Minister Shimon Peres said earlier this year at the United Nations that
Iran has supplied Hezbollah with 10,000 rockets with ranges of 13 miles to 44 miles.
The Israeli official said Friday that some of the missiles had a range of more than 50
miles, enough to strike at the heart of Israel.
Israeli military and diplomatic officials said Hezbollah apparently was planning to strike
Israel to prevent or disrupt a possible U.S. attack on Iraq, but could not provide
specifics on the Iranian support.
Hezbollah - which Washington has called a terrorist group - has refused to comment
on its military strategy. The group's leader, Sheik Hassan Nasrallah, made no mention
of the Israeli claims during a rally Friday marking the second anniversary of the
renewed Palestinian uprising.
The Israeli official said that despite the historic hostility between Iran and Iraq, Iran
wants to minimize U.S. influence in the region and will use Hezbollah to do so.
Israel has been involved in intensive talks with the United States about the Hezbollah
threat and the implications of an escalation along Israel's northern border, the official
said.
Hezbollah waged an 18-year guerrilla war to oust Israel from a strip it occupied in
south Lebanon, until its withdrawal in May 2000. During that period, Hezbollah
repeatedly fired Katyusha rockets at Israeli troop positions and communities across
the border.
After its withdrawal, Israel continued to control an area known as Chebaa Farms.
Hezbollah insists the area is Lebanese territory and has carried out attacks against
Israeli troops there, including one last month that killed an Israeli soldier.
Israel views Syria as responsible for Hezbollah's actions. An attack by the militia on
Israel could prompt Israeli retaliation against Syria.
A State Department report on terror released in May found that Iran supplies Hezbollah
and Palestinian militant groups with money, refuge, training and weapons, and
encouraged Hezbollah and Palestinian groups to coordinate their activities.
The United States has pressed Syria to rein in Hezbollah, which Syria has been
reluctant to do despite a public commitment to fight worldwide terror.
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