Report: Hizbullah's Border Tour 'Three-Dimensional' Challenge
A tour organized by Hizbullah for reporters along Lebanon's southern border to brief them about the defense measures that Israel has set up in recent months, was highly criticized by several parties with some describing it as a challenge, al-Joumhouria daily reported on Friday.
“Christian sources said the move is a “three-dimensional” challenge to the Lebanese State, The United States of America -which is gearing up to impose new sanctions against Hizbullah- and defies Israel in light of reports about a possible military confrontation with the party, knowing that such indicators do not exist,” said the daily quoting unnamed sources.
Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea on Thursday slammed the tour as a “strategic mistake.”
Hizbullah sought Thursday to show that Israel is building up defenses in anticipation of another conflict, after a string of statements from Israeli officials warning of a potential confrontation.
The party, which fought a devastating war with the Jewish state in 2006, brought dozens of journalists on a rare and highly-choreographed trip to the demarcation line between Lebanon and Israel.
A military commander identified as Haj Ihab, dressed in digital camouflage and sunglasses, said the Israeli army was erecting earth berms up to 10 meters (30 feet) high, as well as reinforcing a military position near the Israeli border town of Hanita.
There has been rising speculation about the possibility of a new war between Israel and Hizbullah, more than a decade after their last direct confrontation.
The 34-day conflict in 2006 led to the deaths of 1,200 people in Lebanon, mainly civilians, and 160 Israelis, mostly soldiers.
Source: Naharnet, Agence France Presse
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