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Hizb'Allah rockets hit Lebanon, threaten fragile ceasefire
For the record, I had to dump about 40 tons of raw sewage out of this story before it was post-worthy.
Highlighting the nonexistence fragility of the peace, Hezbollah guerrillas fired at least 10 Katyusha rockets that landed in southern Lebanon early Tuesday, the Israeli army said, adding that nobody was injured. The army said that none of the rockets, which were fired over a two-hour period, had crossed the border and so it had not responded. The truce that took effect at 8 a.m. (1 a.m. EDT) largely held through its first day, although skirmishes between Israeli forces and Hezbollah left six guerrillas killed as both sides promised to retaliate when placed on the defensive. Israel threatened to retaliate against any attacks, while Nasrallah said the militia would consider Israeli troops legitimate targets until they leave.

But Israeli Defense Minister Amir Peretz said that aside from the isolated skirmishes that killed six Hezbollah fighters, the cease-fire was holding and could have implications for future relations with Israel's neighbors. Both sides appeared under strict orders to avoid confrontation. The slain militants "were very close, they were armed, and they posed a danger to the troops," Dallal said. "We're going to shoot anybody who poses an imminent threat to the troops." Hezbollah was believed to have suffered heavy casualties — it reported only 68 fighters killed, but Israel said the number was closer to 400. Now was not the time to debate the disarmament of his guerrilla fighters, Nasrallah asserted confidently after his forces stood toe-to-toe against Israel's vaunted military, able to fire rockets to the very end and blunt attempts by an overwhelming Israeli ground force to wipe out guerrilla positions. "Who will defend Lebanon in case of a new Israeli offensive?" he asked, sitting in front of Lebanese and Hezbollah flags. "The Lebanese army and international troops are incapable of protecting Lebanon."

But Nasrallah said he was open to dialogue about Hezbollah's weapons at the appropriate time. He also credited his group's weapons with proving to Israel that "war with Lebanon will not be a picnic. It will be very costly." Hezbollah fighters — rarely allowed to be photographed seen in earlier visits to southern villages — also appeared more openly.
Ah yes, the elusive Lion of Islam™, a shadowy sprite more rumor than fact. Mostly a fiction created from whole cloth by neocons and right-wing radio talk show hosts...
Two young men in khakis were spotted carrying semiautomatic rifles, and others talked into two-way radios. A few carloads of young men screeched into Kafra and jumped out of their cars, kissing their boyfriends waiting comrades on each cheek.
Posted by: Seafarious 2006-08-15
http://www.rantburg.com/poparticle.php?ID=162954