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Hezbollah and Amal supporters, rejoicing over a speech by Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah marking the anniversary of the end of last summer's war with Israel, fought pro-government supporters with fists and stones in Beirut. Media reports said Hezbollah and Amal supporters drove across the streets of the capital and the southern suburbs, or Dahiyeh, at the end of Nasrallah's speech shortly before midnight Tuesday, waving flags , blowing horns and shooting in the air which antagonized the residents of Beirut, that don't share Hezbollah's claim of 'divine victory' They said one convoy of cars and motorcycles clashed with supporters of MP Saad Hariri's Al-Mustaqbal Movement near Abdul Nasser Mosque on the main Corniche Mazraa street. The two sides traded insults and hurled stones and rocks at each other. Lebanese army troops quickly cordoned off the area and dispersed the antagonists.
In his Tuesday evening address, the third in a series of speeches he has made in recent weeks to mark the August 14 anniversary, Nasrallah promised Israel a "big surprise" if it tired to attack Lebanon. "You Zionists. If you think of launching an aggression against Lebanon, I won't promise you surprises like those that have happened, but I promise you the grand surprise that could change the course of war and the destiny of the region, God willing," Nasrallah said.
He was addressing a rally of supporters and representatives of allied forces at a soccer stadium in south Beirut marking the first anniversary of Hezbollah's self-declared "divine victory" against Israel in the 34-day war which was halted on Aug. 14, 2006 by U.N. Security Council resolution 1701.
Nasrallah appeared on jumbo screens erected at the stadium where tens of thousands of supporters waved Hezbollah flags and chanted for victory and their leader. Nasrallah has been hiding , for security reasons ever since the war ended. Nasrallah said he was personally ready along with Hezbollah's Islamic Resistance to "shoulder responsibility of this promise."
"I warn them (Israelis) and advise them. Here in Lebanon they face a resistance, an army and a nation that reject humiliation ? A nation that fights and is ready for sacrifices and will achieve the historic victory, God willing," Nasrallah said as the crowds chanted "Death to Israel" and "death to America." He added that "any new war on Lebanon will have a high price ? I am not looking for war, but I am working on preventing a war," he added.
The summer which Hezbollah is calling a divine victory devastated Lebanon. Over 1280 Lebanese were killed , mostly civilians , over 5000 were wounded , also mostly civilians , over a million Lebanese were made homeless, mostly Shiite Muslims and over 110,000 homes were destroyed. The infrastructure of Lebanon was totally destroyed and all the bridges were leveled. The cost to Lebanon according to the UN exceeds $15 billion, excluding lost revenue.
Hezbollah promised to rebuild the country with 'Halal' Iranian funds, but these funds never made it to Lebanon, and the people of Lebanon had to assume more debt to pay for rebuilding the country. Lebanon is the most indebted nation on per capita basis. Following the end of the summer war, Hezbollah along with all the pro-Syrian allies , including General Michel Aoun, turned their attention from Israel to the Lebanese people, by occupying the downtown center of Beirut, which devastated the economy and resulted in the closure of the majority of the downtown businesses.