Naharnet Newsdesk - Israel Threatens to Bomb Lebanon Back to Stone Age

			Welcome
English

Lebanon

Israel Threatens to Bomb Lebanon Back to Stone Age
Israel's Defense Minister has threatened from Washington to wipe out Hizbullah's missile arsenal "once and for all," charging that Syria has supplied the Party of God with long-range missiles capable of hitting all cities in the Jewish state.
The threat by Shaul Mofaz came with a chilling report from London that Israel was planning a major offensive in which Beirut's power plants would be devastated and Lebanon bombed back to the Stone Age.

"If Syria and Iran fail to hasten to disarm Hizbullah, Israel will do it on its own," Mofaz said in a meeting with Jewish organizations in the United States Monday evening, An Nahar and As Safir reported in Beirut Friday morning.

"Syria has allowed Hizbullah a free hand to use south Lebanon as a base to attack Israel. In fact we call south Lebanon nowadays as Hizbullahstan. This has to stop. Otherwise, we shall attack," said Mofaz.

There was no immediate response from Hizbullah to the gravest threat hurled by Mofaz against Lebanon since he became defense minister in Ariel Sharon's government six weeks ago.

The threat was aggravated by a story in the London-based Jane's Foreign Report newsletter, which said Israel has laid down plans for bombing every power plant in Beirut and forcing the Lebanese government to hold its meetings under candle light.

The intelligence affairs periodical said the attack would reduce Hizbullah's infrastructure to smithereens, killing "once and for all" its conviction that its missile arsenal has turned the entire population of northern Israel into a Hizbullah hostage.

The population of the north from Kiryat Shmona to Haifa will be evacuated into underground bomb shelters for three to five days while the Israeli army will be turning Lebanon back to the Stone Age," Jane's foreign report quoted a senior Israeli government official as saying.

Beirut, 17 Dec 02, 11:05


Your Comments


You Make the News

Cast Your Comments on this Article
View & Recommend Readers' Comments

Other Headlines

Khalife: Ethiopian Plane 'Exploded' after Take-off, 5 More Victims Identified

Separate St. Maroun Celebrations in Beirut and Brad, Sfeir Says Maronite Church Keen on Coexistence

Spanish King Inspects U.N. Troops in South Lebanon

Jumblat Expresses Regret at 'Offensive Words' against Syrian People, Leadership

Hariri Convinced with Syrian Clarifications on Assad's Remarks

Struger: The Situation is Calm, All Sides Cooperating with UNIFIL

Murr Kicks of Talks with U.S. Officials

Army Arrests Majzoub's Uncle

Suleiman to Spain's King: Lebanon, UNIFIL Facing Dangerous Israeli Threats

Saudi Government Urges International Response to Israeli Threats Against Lebanon, Syria

U.S. Congressman Involved in Deployment of U.S. Marines in Beirut Dies

Phalange Party: Assad's Remarks 'a Second Message' after Abu Moussa's

Jumblat: Leave the Issue of Feb. 14 Rally Participation to Last Minute

Sfeir in Lent Message: Maronite Presence is Based on Covenant, We Ask for No One's Guarantees

Quarrel at Manara Fishermen Port: Mashnouq Denies Being Beaten, Aridi Declines to Comment

Recovered Black Box Could Tell Story of Ethiopian Plane Crash

Assad to Berri: Syria will Support Lebanon if Israel Attacks

Black Box Retrieved 14 Days after Ethiopian Plane Crash

Filipina House Worker Murders Employer's Sister with Kitchen Knife

Rifi in Damascus as March 14 Adapts to New Phase

Assad to Berri: We Support Lebanon and Its Stability

Aoun: Lebanese Refugees in Israel is a Pressing Issue, Not All of Them are Spies

Survey: Mixed View of Hizbullah in Muslim Countries

Western Diplomat Rules Out Israeli War on Lebanon

Mustaqbal Doubts Authenticity of Remarks Attributed to Assad, Hariri Calls Assad

Aridi: Black Boxes Located under the Ethiopian Plane's Tail

European Official: Lebanon is Safe from Israeli Attacks during Next 3 Months

Sfeir Sends Jumblat Message

Qassem Rules Out War but Says Hizbullah Should be Ready

Jumblat Concerned over New Israeli War, Describes Situation as Madness

Hizbullah Cadres on Alert

U.S. Concern over Alleged Arms Smuggling, Repetition of 2006 Scenario

Suleiman Consulting with Officials on Reviving National Dialogue

International Review of UNIFIL Structure Amid Denial to Downsize it

Gilad: Israel's Anti-Missile System to Remain on Lebanon's Front

Jumblat Snaps Back at Lieberman: We Are with Syrian People, Leadership Above All Else

Sfeir: Possibilities of War Exist as Long as Hizbullah Wants to Play State Role

Cassese: Hariri Case Highly Complex

Suleiman: Lebanese Democratic System Among the Best in the World

Interior Ministry, USAID Sign MOU on Technical Support for Municipal Elections

Wahab Accuses Arslan of Murder Attempt, Tells Him Gone is Era of Dinosaurs

Army, Lebanese Forces at Loggerheads Over Alleged Torture of Minor

Geagea: March 14 will Carry On until Cedar Revolution Goals are Achieved

Libya Expects Suleiman to Participate in Arab Summit Despite Shiite Ire

Moussa: Fragile Mideast Situation Could Reflect on Lebanon

Agreement to Stop News Leaks on Dar al-Fatwa

Assad: Civil War in Lebanon Could Start in Days unless They Change the Whole System

Names of Lebanese Passengers Released from Plane Crash


Other Categories

Editorials
SpecialReports
Middle East
The World
Interview
Away From Politics
Lebanon Business
World Business
Culture
Lebanon Sports
World Sports
Technology
Health
Fringe


Comments

Please wait while we load the comments

Click to Comment
Recommend Readers' Comments to Promote Their Views